Roles Reversed

by Buffy Writer

Copyright © 2005

feedbacktome@hotmail.com

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Not mine, I'm not that lucky.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse: http://mysticmuse.net
My Site: http://www.angelfire.com/vamp/bwriter/
Anyone else, just ask.
Feedback: Please, I'm needy.
Spoilers: Anne.
Author's Notes: Willow is the Slayer, Buffy a Vampire – Everything that happened to Buffy on the show happened to Willow instead, just replace Angel/Angelus with Dru. Buffy takes Spikes role, though I changed her age from Spikes so she is 250 and the two characters are nothing alike, and he replaces Dru as the loony Vampire…Confused?? Hope not.
Pairing: Willow/Buffy

Part one – Decisions

The Vampire stood in the shadows and watched its prey. It was all her fault. Spike had left her because she had helped the Slayer when their asshole of a Sire tried to destroy the world. He hadn't liked the fact that she had helped distract Dru long enough for the Slayer to kill her, even though Buffy had only did it to save him. The Slayer would have dusted him for sure after that little incident involving Kendra.

Buffy paused, thinking of the last time she had tasted Slayer blood from the source. It had been 1977 in New York. She could feel her demon telling her that it was hungry but she stayed where she was and continued watching the Slayer through the window. A lesser Vampire may have given into its basic urges, but Buffy was two hundred and fifty years old and could control herself.

Most of the time anyway.

Buffy wondered just what the Slayer was doing in L.A and why she wasn't back in Sunnydale. A familiar scent brought her back to the present and she saw the Slayer exit the cafe she appeared to be working in and followed her from a safe distance, making sure to stay out range of the girl's radar.

Night had fallen not thirty minutes ago, so Buffy was able to move around freely, after being rooted to one spot most of the day. Buffy found it laughable that someone who had a deadly reaction to sunlight would risk so much to stalk their prey.

She was brought out of her musings by a voice she vaguely recognized but couldn't place.

"Rose? Rose? Willow?" At that the Slayer stopped walking and turned to face the girl whose face Buffy couldn't see.

"Don't be mad. I won't turn you in or nothing. I guess you don't recognize me." It was bugging Buffy, she knew she'd heard that voice before.

"Lily?" The Slayer sounded tired. For the first time Buffy had spotted her in L.A, she got a good look at the Slayer's face. She didn't just look tired, she looked hollow, there was no fire in her eyes anymore and for some reason that bothered Buffy more than she liked.

"I mean from before. I was calling myself Chantarelle then. I used to…Well, I was in this cult that worshipped vampires. So lame, I know."

"Yeah…I, uh, I remember." And now Buffy did two. The girl talking to the Slayer was a former Vampire groupie, one which Buffy had very nearly killed.

Buffy watched as they made small talk before a homeless man bumped into them. She watched as the girl, Lily, spoke but her eyes were fixed on the Slayer's who looked like she was about ready to drop. She watched as the man walked into the middle of on-coming traffic before stopping before a truck that would surely hit him, and she watched as the Slayer pushed him out of the way and was hit but the pick-up truck.

Buffy looked on as the Slayer bounced off the window shield before being thrown from the bonnet to land a few feet away before rolling to a stop.

When she didn't get back up, Buffy moved before she was even conscious of doing it. She reached the Slayer's side before any of the others could.

"Is she okay?" The question came from Lily and as Buffy was about to look up to answer her with a sarcastic remark, the Slayer groaned before opening her eyes. All of Buffy attention went back to the girl whose head was in her lap.

"Buffy?" Buffy gave a smile, not realizing she was doing so.

"Yeah Slayer, it's me." Buffy heard Lily gasp and looked up to meet her fear filled eyes.

"Oh god, it's you!" Buffy watched as Lily began backing away before turning and running like the devil was on her heals. That though made Buffy smirk.

She was brought back to herself when she heard the driver call for an ambulance. The Slayer stiffened in her arms and she wondered what was wrong now.

"What?" The question came out much softer than she had imagined.

All Buffy heard was "no hospital" before the Slayer passed out again and in that second Buffy made a decision.

Picking the Slayer up carefully and enfolding her safely in her arms, she ignored the calls of the driver to stop and calmly walked away before blending into the shadows like the creature of the night she was.

Not having an invitation to the Slayer's place, Buffy took her injured enemy back to the hotel she had been staying in, once again asking herself why she was even bothering but coming up with no answer to give.

Laying the Slayer on the bed, Buffy finally got a look at the damage. There were cuts covering her legs, some of the deep ones still oozing blood, but Buffy knew that with her Slayer healing that she'd be right as rain in no time.

Again, she was caught thinking of the other Slayer's she had tasted, before a pained groan brought her back to reality.

The Slayer's right arm was bent at an odd angle, and having seen and caused many broken bones over the years, Buffy knew that it was indeed broken. Not taking time to second guess herself, she began taking off the Slayer's clothes until she was dressed only in her bra and panties.

Her mind set on her task, she began cleaning all the various cuts on the Slayer's body before moving onto the arm. Pondering how to make a temporary splint for it, Buffy's eyes fell on the bedside cabinet. Its legs were made out of thick solid wood. It would have to do for now.

Buffy bent over and snapped one of the legs off, putting the table at an odd angle. She then ripped a spare bed sheet up and used it to tie the wood to the Slayer's arm to keep it in place, then hopefully the natural healing process would deal with the rest.

Her task now accomplished, Buffy tidied the mess she had made and slipped the Slayer under the covers. Not wanting to delve into just why she was helping the Slayer, who had caused her a world of trouble, Buffy went for a quick shower before putting her jeans and a sweater on over her tank top and panties then sitting down and reading a book, while keeping one eye on the Slayer.

Buffy looked at the clock. It was a little past one in the afternoon and she needed to feed. She hadn't fed in over twenty four hours now. Glancing at the sun outside she cursed herself for not leaving before dawn to feed and wondered just what the hell she was going to do.

Standing up she rummaged for her cell phone, managing to knock over most of the items on the desk before actually finding it. Flipping it open she called someone she could trust.

"Hello?"

"Hey Lorne, it's Buffy."

"Well hey there little lady. What can I do ya for?"

"I need a favor. I'm kinda stuck inside and I never fed last night. Could you please bring me some blood?"

"I don't have any on me but if you give me some time I could swing by with some sure, but it might not be human."

Buffy cringed at the thought of drinking animal blood but she was hungry so it would do, the thought never even entered her mind that there was a human not five feet away with the most intoxicating blood on the planet.

"Fine, at this point I don't care just bring it please. You have my room number already, see you soon."

She hung up and turned to look at the Slayer who's heartbeat had risen, which signaled that she was waking up.

Buffy moved closer to the bed but stayed far enough away just incase the Slayer was grouchy in the mornings.

"Ow, why do I feel like I've been hit by a bus?"

Buffy smirked.

"Close enough, it was a truck." As expected the Slayer shot up before realizing that it was a bad move.

"Just stay still, it'll come back to you in a flash." Buffy paced the room waiting for Lorne to arrive with her food. Food, shit the Slayer would probably need some too.

Buffy pulled out her phone again, smirking when she noticed the Slayer flinch, and dialed Lorne again.

"Hey, could you also pick up a burger with the works, some fries and a soda?…Thanks Lorne, see you in a few."

Buffy gave her attention back to the girl in her bed and noticed that she looked so young lying there. But then when Buffy thought about it, she was only seventeen years old.

"Why did you help me?"

Buffy had no answer for her, so she settled on one that seemed appropriate.

"Please, been waiting this long to kill you, I'm not giving up my chance at a third Slayer just because you get all heroic and jump in front of a moving vehicle."

Buffy wasn't expecting the Slayer to do what she did next. She watched as the Slayer sat up slowly before tilting her head to the side.

"Do me a favor? Keep your promise." Buffy frowned wondering what the hell she was going on about.

"Huh?" Inwardly Buffy rolled her eyes at herself for such a lame response.

"You once told me that when you killed me you'd make it quick so I wouldn't feel it." Buffy watched as the Slayer tilted her head even further.

She watched the vein pulse with blood before tearing her eyes away and meeting the Slayer's. What she saw there upset her. The Slayer had all but given up.

Shaking her head, Buffy sat back down and lifted her book up, opening it to the place she had marked.

Willow picked at the bed sheet, wondering why Buffy had gone quiet of her.

They sat that way for the next fifteen minutes before they were interrupted by a knock.

"Hey, how'd you know it was me and not some nasty demon?"

"Lorne? You are a demon and I could smell you. Plus if it was a demon who wanted to make trouble, well then guess I would've had to starting hitting things and you know I hate doing that."

"Yeah right."

Buffy smiled and accepted the blood he had and took the food to the Slayer, who had watched the scene before her with a semi shocked look on her face. She'd never seen Buffy smile at anyone, other than Spike anyway.

Buffy handed over the food but frowned when she realized that the Slayer wouldn't be able to open the cartons with only one hand. Sighing she took them back before opening them up for easy access, and noticing the questioning glance Lorne was giving her, she blew out a frustrated breath.

"What?" The Slayer flinched at the tone, still not understanding just what was going on. Lorne just smiled.

"Oh don't get you panties in a bunch. Tell me pet, who's the lovely lady who's looking a little banged up? What happened to Spike?"

Buffy had to struggle for some reason not to thump Lorne when he started eyeing the Slayer.

"Lorne meet the Slayer. Slayer, meet Lorne." Buffy watched Lorne like a hawk, not even noticing that she was being over protective of the Slayer.

But he noticed and so did the Slayer.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard rumors of what you've gone through down on the Hellmouth, though I'm sure you actually have a name." Buffy snorted and opened her blood container before drinking it down in one go.

"Ugh, what the hell was that?" Buffy made a big show of scrubbing at her mouth, but the blood had done the trick and the hunger was gone for now and the demon was happy.

"It was pig, best I could do at short notice sweetcheeks. And you still haven't told me her real name."

"Willow, my name is Willow." Buffy turned her attention back to the Slayer.

"Though for some reason, Buffy has never seemed to grasp that fact." Buffy simply smirked and turned back to Lorne.

"To answer your question, Spike and I are no longer together." Buffy was surprised that that one sentence didn't cause her pain the way it once would have.

"Well, why not? The last time I saw you two, everything was great. What happened?"

Buffy saw the Slayer looking at her as well as Lorne, both waiting to hear what happened.

"Well, he got a little testy about the fact I helped the Slayer here take out Dru-" Buffy was going to say more but she saw the Slayer go deathly pale and was by her side instantly.

"What is it?" Buffy tried to get Willow to meet her eyes but was having no luck.

"Hey Lorne, mind if we catch up another time?"

"Sure, I'll see you around I'm sure. Bye Willow, nice meeting you."

The door closed announcing that he had gone and Buffy sat on the bed close to the Slayer.

"Want to tell me what has you looking like your trying out for the dead poet's society?" She got no answer and it was starting to annoy her. Frustrated she stood up and went back to her book trying to act like she didn't care.

Problem was, she did.

"After you knocked out Spike, Dru and I still fought, just as I was about to take her out, she got her soul back at the last minute. She didn't remember anything that she'd done, she just held me. But it was too late, so I told her I loved her, then I kissed her, then I killed her."

Buffy watched the girl before her cry like her heart was breaking, and it was Buffy supposed. Or it had. But that didn't tell her the whole story. Standing she moved to the bed with the grace of the Vampire she was. Sitting down she awkwardly patted the Slayer on the back.

"How did you end up in L.A?"

"Mom had kicked me out, I was wanted for Kendra's murder and because of me all my friends were hurt, tortured or killed. I couldn't stay, so I came here, never helped though."

Buffy looked at the girl beside her and made her second big decision in a twenty-four hour period.

"As soon as you can move again, I'm taking you back to Sunnyhell." Buffy didn't have to even wait for the objections to come.

"No way am I going home. There's nothing there for me now."

Buffy sighed and reached out, stopping before her hand made contact with the Slayer's cheek, before drawing it back to her own body.

"Slayer, when I first met you, I shadowed you to learn your fighting skills – which were pretty good – and in that time I saw how you interacted with the people around you. I've met Slayer's before, but you were different. You had a fire in your eyes they never had. The reason you aren't going home isn't because of the fact you feel you had no choice about leaving, not really anyway, but because your worried that everyone is going to blame you for what Dru did. Am I right?"

Willow wondered just how the hell Buffy had read her so clearly.

"You don't have that fire anymore Slayer, hell you aren't even a shadow of the girl I first met. Who do you think is protecting the Hellmouth while your here?"

Willow closed her eyes and pictured her friends patrolling, keeping the demon population down as best they could and another tear escaped her.

"Why are you so worried? Why do you even care?"

"Because I just do now can we leave it at that and let me get some sleep?"

Buffy was tired and felt herself getting snappy, but hell, she hadn't slept much the night before, just dozed. She took off her sweater and jeans and was left wearing a tank top and panties. She noticed Willow trying not to look.

"Jesus Slayer, its not like I have anything you haven't seen before right?" The comment was meant to lighten the mood, but for Willow it brought back memories of her one time with another woman. Buffy cursed herself.

"Sorry, look I'm tired, we'll see how you feel later and see about heading back to demon central."

With that said Buffy lay down and pulled the covers over herself before turning out the light and letting her keen eyes adjust to the difference. Deciding she couldn't see the Slayer well enough, she shifted to her demon visage and saw that the Slayer had calmed down. She closed her own eyes and concentrated on the heartbeat of the girl beside and thought of how fucked up unlife was.

A few days ago, she would never have even thought of helping the Slayer, and yet here she was, taking care of her no less.

Willow woke up to feel two strong arms wrapped around her and a soft body at her back. She closed her eyes and let herself remember just where she was and who she was with. Realizing she was wrapped in the arms of a soulless Vampire she tried to sit up when she was faced with a Vamped out Buffy pinning her to the bed with her body.

It took a while for it to register with Buffy just who she was pinning to the bed.

"Morning." Buffy moved off of Willow and wasn't surprised when the girl jumped out of the bed, though she was oddly hurt by it.

"How's your arm? Ready to go home?"

"Why don't I just get a bus, no point in you going out of your way is there. Mind if I take a shower? No? Good." The bathroom door closed before Buffy could utter one word.

She got out of bed herself and changed her top and underwear, stuffing her clothes back into the duffel she had with her and was ready to go when the Slayer came out of the bathroom.

"I'm going, end of story; I have business in Sunnyhell anyway, so let's get moving. Wait, do you need to get anything from your place?"

"How did you know I have a place?" Buffy turned her back so the slayer wouldn't see her smirk.

"Well I figured you'd have to stay somewhere right?"

"Actually yeah there is some stuff."

They both set off with Buffy leading the way to her car.

"Nice car. What did you do, steal it?"

Buffy actually looked offended for some reason Willow couldn't fathom.

"I did not steal it. I bought it just last week." At the Slayer's look Buffy snapped.

"Look you want to see the papers? God, why is it so hard to believe I would buy a car?"

"Because, you're evil and evil things don't play by the rules." Even as she was saying it the words tasted bitter in Willow's mouth.

Buffy's jaw clenched but she never said anything. She was hurt. Being called a thing wasn't a nice feeling. So yeah, ok, she was a Vampire, but still…

She was pissed because she was hurt, but she was. She had just spent all day looking after the Slayer instead of killing her and this is what she gets.

Neither said a word on the journey to Willow's place. When they arrived they went up with Willow this time leading the way. Unlocking the door she went in and began rummaging for what she wanted to take. She was surprised that Buffy hadn't commented on her home for the past couple of months when it hit her.

Buffy stood at the door, leaning against it waiting for the Slayer to return. She thought it was stupid that the Slayer never invited her in when she could have killed her at any stage when she was with her. Again she had hurt feelings, though on the bright aside, ever since meeting the Slayer again, she hadn't thought of her ex and where he was.

She was brought out of her own thoughts when she felt the Slayer approach her.

"God sorry, I totally forgot that you needed an invite. Please come in."

Buffy hid her surprise and walked in taking a look at her surroundings.

"Cozy."

"Yeah well, it did me I suppose. I have nearly everything, give me a minute."

"Sure." Buffy sat on the bed and picked up a stuffed pig, throwing it about in the air before catching it.

"Mr Gordo! Can't believe I almost forgot him." Willow took the pig off Buffy who was looking at her strangely.

"Well that's me, not entirely ready, but going home."

They were back in Buffy's car and well on their way when the Slayer started with her questions again. Buffy didn't want to answer them, mostly because she didn't know the answer herself turned on the in car CD player before skipping to a song which she figured would shut the Slayer up a little. Everybody liked this song, even undead vamps like her.

Another turning point a fork stuck in the road

Time grabs you by the wrist directs you where to go

So make the best of this test and don't ask why

It's not a question but a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable

But in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs and still frames in your mind

Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time

Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial

For what it's worth it was worth all the while

It's something unpredictable

But in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable

But in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

It's something unpredictable

But in the end is right

I hope you had the time of your life

The 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign loomed ahead and Willow was very nervous. The song hit a little to close to what she had been asking the Vampire beside her. She knew that things were going to get pretty rough but for once since killing Dru, she felt, not peace but a tingling sensation. Of course that could just be because there was a Vampire beside her but hey.

"Home sweet home" Buffy looked over at her passenger before smiling softly, shocking Willow, before bringing her eyes back to the road.

"So who are you going to see first then? Mom? Watcher? Annoying group of friends?"

Part two – Reunions

Buffy pulled into the school parking lot and killed the engine on the car. Turning to face the Slayer she sighed when she saw that she had no intention of getting out of the car any time soon.

"You know, your going to have to face them sooner or later, though I figured you would have picked your mom first."

Willow turned her head and stared out her window.

"I doubt that she'd welcome me with open arms, and if she can't it's extremely doubtful that they will."

Buffy heard the sadness in the Slayer's voice but couldn't really do anything to help. She had no idea how the Slayer was going to be welcomed back. It was very possible that her Watcher and friends would turn on her. The thought made Buffy growl.

"What's with the gggrrr?"

Buffy frowned before realizing that she was growling. She stopped before answering.

"Hungry is all. So, ready to head into the lions den?"

She was surprised when the Slayer smirked at her before getting out of the car.

"Says she with the pointy teeth and the taste for blood."

Buffy expected the Slayer to head on in, not stand by the car door. She felt a strange uneasiness about the fact they were about to head of in different directions.

"Could you…never mind, your probably busy. Thanks for the lift and…everything."

Buffy saw that the Slayer was about to walk away and didn't want to leave her side. She didn't know what these feelings were but she liked them.

"Hey wait up. Want some company?"

Willow tried to hide her surprise at the offer but truthfully she didn't want to face Giles alone.

"Sure, but no biting anyone."

Buffy simply smirked at her and they headed inside.

Giles looked up from the crossbow he was testing when he heard the library doors open. What he saw made him raise said crossbow and shoot at the target.

Buffy stepped out of the way of the first arrow but the second hit her in the stomach. Growling and vamping out she tore it from her body before looking at the Watcher.

"What the hell is your problem? Here I am doing you a favor and you SHOOT me!"

Giles didn't lower the crossbow nor did he back away from the angry Vampire in front of him. He was too busy thinking about the last time this same Vampire had helped him out.

Dru had been about to chop him up until Buffy stopped her, of course it ended up with him kissing Spike but Giles thought that even that was better than having no limbs.

"What are you doing here?"

Buffy looked around and noticed that the Slayer hadn't followed her in. Muttering a curse she walked back out the double doors and found the Slayer pacing beside a drinks machine.

"Oh this is just great this is. I'm in there getting shot with arrows and you're out here pacing and pouting like a spoilt child!"

Buffy was pissed. Here she was, an evil Vampire trying to actually help the Slayer and getting nearly dusted for her trouble. She was starting to think that it wasn't worth it.

Her thoughts changed when the Slayer turned to look at her and took in the blood that was now seeping through Buffy's tank top and coat.

Willow, like Buffy had done before her never questioned why she was so concerned about the Vampire before her, its not like she could die from her wound.

She came to Buffy's side and tried to examine her but the Vampire wouldn't let her.

"Look I just wanna see how bad it is okay? Who was it anyway?"

Buffy growled and moved away. She was loosing too much blood which led her to think that the arrow had been dipped into something.

"You're Watcher, and would you mind going in there before he comes out to have another go at me."

Buffy tried to ignore the pain but the Slayer wasn't moving. She was just about ready to snap at her when she heard the click of another arrow being slid into place.

"Great, here we go again." Turning she kept her body between the Slayer and the Watcher in an attempt to protect the girl behind her.

Giles noticed that Buffy was protecting someone but he couldn't see who it was. Probably just another demon. He fired his crossbow again, not wanting to give the demons before him time to regroup and two things happened at once.

Willow had come out of her stupor and saw him release the trigger on the bow.

Buffy saw the same thing and stayed rooted to the spot, knowing that if she moved then the arrow meant for her would hit the Slayer. She wasn't ready for the Slayer when she moved.

Willow knocked Buffy to the floor and fell on top on her, the arrow stuck into her right shoulder. Giles looked on in horror as he saw his arrow enter his Slayer, then he realized what he was seeing and rushed to her side.

Giles was about to lift Willow from the ground when he realized that she had passed out.

She still wasn't fully healed from before and the added pain sent Willow into a whirl of darkness.

He looked at Buffy and found her looking dead at him with murderous amber eyes and fangs at the ready.

"Get. Away. Now." Buffy was way passed pissed off it was a wonder Giles wasn't already dead.

Fighting off her own pain, Buffy raised herself up and had the Slayer once again in her arms before walking into the library. She used one arm to sweep everything off the main table before laying the Slayer down and balling up her coat before putting it under the Slayer's head.

"Funny thing is, she never wanted to come back here. I made her and look what happens. She was scared of how you would treat her. She blames herself for everything that happened with Dru-" When Giles moved closer to Willow, Buffy Vamped out again and growled a warning for him to stop, which he did.

"Why are you helping her? You have no soul. Right?"

Buffy looked appalled at the mere mention of having a soul.

"God no, why the hell would I want one of those? Never did Dru much good now did it?" Secretly Buffy was thinking that maybe it did do Dru some good, after all, it had led her to the Slayer.

"Then why? You've tried to kill her often enough and yet when you have the perfect opportunity to just now you don't. Instead you help her. Why?"

Amber eyes moved to the Slayer who was still sprawled out on the desk, but who was coming round. Buffy could stall in answering yet again for which she was thankful.

Willow once again found herself waking up with pain cursing through her. Her body was still recovering from being hit by a truck, now she had an arrow wound to add to it. Remembering what happened she sat up and was relieved to find Buffy standing near her.

"Willow?"

Willow turned to see Giles there as well and was thankful he was on his own and that the Scoobies weren't with him tonight. She wanted to reassure him that she was fine but Buffy was still bleeding and looked like she was just about ready to drop.

"Here sit down, we really need to get you patched up. Giles a fist aid kit would be good."

Buffy who eased herself into a chair declined the help.

"Fix her Watcher."

Giles went into his office to get his first aid kit before returning and sitting Willow down on one of the chairs. He was shocked when she moved it to sit closer to the Vampire.

"Would someone like to tell me just what in Gods name is going on?"

Buffy had no desire to speak to the Watcher and let Willow tell her story. And tell him she did. Everything from having to kill Dru up being cared for by Buffy.

Giles listened to it all while he was cleaning and bandaging Willow's wound. When she got to the part where Buffy took care of her, Giles looked at the Vampire in question but found her about to leave the room.

"If you want to wait I can clean that wound for you. The arrows were dipped in Holy Water so the healing process will be hampered."

Willow had also spotted Buffy leaving and was standing up to stop her when Buffy simply turned and left, not saying a word.

"Guess she didn't want to stick around huh? Well she said she did have business to do here anyway before we left L.A so..."

Giles looked at his Slayer and spoke gently.

"You do realize that the business she has here may be demonic and that you may have to stake her?"

Willow looked to her Watcher and was about to answer him when the library doors opened to reveal Xander, Cordy, Tara and Oz. None of them had noticed her yet, they were too busy talking about the patrol they had just completed.

Giles cleared his throat bringing their attention to him and the girl by his side.

"Will!" All four practically shouted it at once before engulfing her in a group hug, backing off at her small whimper of pain.

"Where have you been?" The question came from Xander and Willow sighed knowing that she was about to go through everything all over again.

Buffy was in her car with no idea about where she was going. When she had told the Slayer that she had business to do she had been lying.

Turning her car she headed for the butchers. She needed blood and was too weak to go hunting for it, so she would once again have to feed off animal blood.

After paying for her package and getting some pretty weird looks for buying so much blood, Buffy was on her way to the mansion.

Her stomach was throbbing. She could feel the Holy Water slowly eating away at the skin there and knew she had to get it off soon.

She headed straight for the bathroom when she arrived and stripped before climbing in and washing the blood away from her wound. Looking up she spotted soap that had been left behind and was suddenly thankful for it. She lathered some up before rubbing it into her wound, whimpering when it stung.

Satisfied that all the Holy Water was gone, she set about feeding. Opening the shower stall she lifted her blood container off the floor and began gulping it down, trying to ignore the taste.

When she was done she used the soap to wash her hair before getting out and wrapping herself in her coat and moving to her old room. Pulling the dustsheet off of the bed she lay down and opened her coat to get a look at the wound.

It was already starting to heal. The blood and the absence of Holy Water had allowed her body to heal itself and after living, or unliving, for two hundred and fifty years she healed pretty quickly.

Buffy fell asleep, wrapped in her coat and dreamt of a girl with fiery green eyes and fiery red hair.

Willow stood before her front door and knowing that her Watcher stood behind her only calmed her nerves a little. Taking a deep breath she raised her hand and knocked.

And knocked. And knocked yet again. After all her worrying her mom wasn't even home. It would have been funny if Willow wasn't so tangled up inside about her moms reaction.

"You can stay with me tonight and we can sort everything out in the morning."

Willow smiled a small, sad smile at her Watcher before thanking him and heading back to his car. Even though she had a lot of stuff on her mind, a niggling thought about Buffy kept pushing its way in.

She was a Vampire, a soulless one at that and if she was there to cause trouble, Willow knew that as the Slayer she would have to do her duty. Hell she killed Dru didn't she, Buffy should be no problem. Even so, she felt unease at the thought of killing her.

One week had passed. The Slayer had been accepted back by her friends, her Watcher and her mom. She was even back at school. Buffy knew all this because she had been keeping an eye on her.

In fact she was watching her right now. The Slayer and her friend, the blonde one, were dancing to the werewolf's band. Buffy had finally admitted to herself that she had feelings for the Slayer, there was no way she was letting her know that but she had admitted it to herself and that was enough.

For now.

She watched as the blonde one moved closer and the tempo of the song changed from rock to slow.

Buffy watched through narrowed eyes as the blonde moved even closer to the Slayer and resisted growling. Buffy had never been so happy to see the boy as she was now. The one called Xander, made his way through the crowd of people to his two friends. She knew that the blonde was dating the werewolf but, she was still to close to the Slayer for Buffy's liking.

Raising her eyes, Buffy could see the Slayer looking around herself. Alerting all her senses, Buffy searched the club looking for a threat. There was nothing apart from Vampires.

Quite a high number of them actually. Buffy could detect twenty or so.

Buffy looked towards the Slayer again and found her gone then the lights went out. Buffy instinctively switched to her game face so she could see better.

Searching through the mass of people from the balcony where she was, she spotted the Slayer near the pool table.

She began making her way there when the lights came back on. On stage where the band had been were five Vamps and the boy they had by the throat, who Buffy realized was Xander.

"Okay, nobody move. Me and my buddies here were just passing through town when we got hungry. So this is what's going to happen. We're gonna feed and you lot get to die."

Buffy rolled her eyes and finally arrived at the Slayer's side. Putting her face close to the Slayer's ear and being surprised that she could Buffy spoke;

"Hey there, looks like you could use a hand. You take any Vamps down here and leave the five on stage for me. Yell if you need help." She was gone before the Slayer could say a word.

Buffy walked calmly up to the stage before jumping up and facing the Vampire that had spoken.

"Boys would you look at that. This ones egger to die.

Buffy rolled her eyes before Vamping out.

"I'm already dead nimrod." With that said, she launched herself at him, which was the signal that everyone seemed to be waiting for.

The crowd of people began running towards the exits and Willow began fighting her own battles.

Buffy hadn't had a good fight like this in ages. Just fist and fangs.

Two of the five on stage were already dust thanks to a drumstick.

Buffy leapt into the air and spun before coming down behind the leader and kicking him in the back of the neck, sending him sprawling to the ground below the stage. She made quick work of the other two before going after him.

Willow had dusted seven Vamps while Xander, Cordy, Tara and Oz were taking on another three, leaving two including the leader. As Buffy was taking care of him Willow went after the last one.

Soon they were all dust and it was then, now that the club was empty apart from the Scoobies and Buffy, that the rest finally noticed her.

"Nnnaaahhh Will! Look, what the hell is she doing here? Never mind just dust the bitch." Xander really didn't like Vampires.

Willow rolled her eyes and walked over to Buffy, who just glared at Xander for the bitch remark.

"You okay?" Buffy turned her attention back to the Slayer and gave her a slight nod, knowing that she wasn't talking about the aftermath of the fight.

"How about you?" As she asked the question her face reverted to its human guise.

Willow tilted her head before answering.

"I'm good." She also got that Buffy wasn't talking about the fight. They were interrupted by the others.

Xander pulled Willow away from Buffy and thrust a cross in her face, making her growl and step back.

"Keep walking."

"Xander." Willow lowered his arm and stepped out from behind him.

Buffy smirked at him before stepping forward and the smirk widened when he took a step back.

"Gee, anyone would think that you weren't happy to see me."

"Will why aren't you staking her?" The question came from Cordy and Willow answered without taking her eyes off of Buffy.

"Because she hasn't given me a reason to yet."

Buffy heard her and the message was clear. She wouldn't stake her unless Buffy forced her too by acting like the Vampire she was. It was probably lucky that the Slayer didn't know about the humans Buffy had been feeding off then. Even if they were left alive, she would probably frown upon it.

"Will, she's a Vamp, reason enough there." Xander just couldn't keep his mouth shut.

Buffy had had enough.

"I'll be around."

Willow watched as Buffy walked passed them, with the rest of the Scoobies giving her a wide berth, before leaving the club.

Xander turned to his friend and told her to explain why she had just let Buffy go.

Willow sighed and told them all the pieces she had left out of her story before. All the pieces regarding Buffy that she had only told to Giles.

Part three – Reasons

Walking through Restfield cemetery, Willow just knew that someone was watching her and she had a feeling she knew who it was. Stopping, she'd had enough.

"You know, stalking? Not really that much of a reassurance these days Buffy."

Buffy stepped out from behind the headstone she had been lurking behind.

"Hey."

Willow's eyebrows rose slightly.

"That's it? You disappear for a month and all I get is 'hey'?

Buffy stopped walking closer to the Slayer, trying to judge her mood.

"Miss me?" Buffy didn't no why but she held her breath, even though she didn't exactly breathe, while she waited for Willow's answer.

"Actually yes. It's been pretty boring around here lately."

Buffy gave her a smile before walking the rest of the distance to stand beside the redhead. Just as she reached her side a demon attacked.

"God, you and your big mouth."

"Oh please, trouble just seems to follow you-"

"Excuse me but when you two are finished I have an important message for the leech there."

Buffy took offence to that and soon the demon found himself on the ground with and angry Vampire on top of him.

"Leech!? Leech!?"

Willow tapped Buffy on the back to get her attention but she got snarled at for her trouble. Rolling her eyes she walked back a few paces, put her thumb and pinkie of her left hand into her mouth and blew.

Loudly.

Buffy stopped and looked over at the Slayer before sighing and standing up.

"Good. Now that's over, what did you want to tell Buffy?"

The demon offered Willow a smile which wasn't returned.

Buffy was trapped between glaring at the demon and pouting at the Slayer for ruining her fun.

"Right well, my boss told me to tell you that he knows what you've been up to and he's not happy. Says he wants a word. Tonight."

Buffy had no idea what he was on about and her confusion was echoed by the look on the Slayer's face.

"Okay, run that by me one more time but tell me who the hell you're talking about."

The demon sighed and shook his head before turning his back and walking away before throwing over his shoulder;

"Tonight. The old factory. Midnight."

"Damn it." Buffy really hated not knowing what was going on. Looking at her watch she saw it was just past eleven thirty.

"Gotta go see what that was all about. Guess I'll see ya around Slayer.

Willow stopped her with a hand on her arm. Both of them felt the electricity of that one touch but neither could face its meaning just yet. Willow pulled her hand back.

"Want me to tag along? Might be a trap."

Buffy was about to say no when she thought about the possibility that it was indeed a trap.

"Sure."

They each walked in silence until Buffy couldn't take it anymore.

"So, what's been happening while I've been gone?"

"Do you really wanna know?"

Buffy actually let out a small laugh at that one, shocking the hell out of Willow.

"Wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

"Well let's see. No new Big Bads, so nothing new to report of the demon front that I've heard about, though your new friend may change that. Oh the new Slayer arrived. Her name is Faith, she's Kendra's…anyway if you want you can tag alone when I go meet Giles later and meet her yourself."

Giles.

Buffy suddenly remembered the book. Taking it out of her pocket she handed it to the Slayer.

"Take this to your Watcher now, I've got a feeling I know what this boss guy wants. Don't linger anywhere around town, just head straight to the library and I'll meet you there."

Willow took the book before turning it over in her hands.

"Why is it so important?"

Buffy shook her head before answering.

"Did that Watcher teach you nothing? Forget it, take it to him and he can tell you everything. I'll meet you there, now go."

Buffy watched the Slayer run off before continuing on to the factory.

Willow burst through the library doors and headed straight for her Watchers office saying nothing to her friends, who were looking at each other wondering what was going on.

They were about to go back to their conversation when they heard a shout come from the office.

"Where the bloody hell did you get this?"

Giles looked at his Slayer in awe. In her hands she held the book the Watchers council had tried to find for over two hundred years.

"Buffy's back. She gave it to me and told me to get it to you. What is it anyway?"

Giles wondered just what Buffy was doing. This book in the hands of a Slayer would be fatal to nearly any enemy.

"Willow, this book is said to hold the secrets of the Slayer. Where your power comes from, how to increase that power and more importantly what it actually means to be the Slayer. I have no idea where Buffy found this but it's a bloody miracle that she did. The council has been looking for two centuries."

Willow looked from the book to Giles then set about telling him about the demon attack and that Buffy was meeting with its boss right now and would come straight here after it.

"...so you can grill her on it then."

An hour had passed and Buffy still hadn't arrived yet, but Faith had. The gang all sat around the main desk, with the exception of Oz who was at band practice.

Willow was worried and trying not to let it show. Over the past month she had been feeling like she was getting back to herself after the whole Dru incident. She still wasn't one hundred per-cent, but she felt that she was slowly getting there.

She didn't like the feeling that had settled in her stomach when she thought about Buffy in danger.

Not being able to take the waiting anymore she stood up making the rest, apart from Faith, jump.

"I'm gonna see if I can find her."

Faith had no idea who everyone was waiting on, but she knew she was bored so she offered to go with Willow.

Just as they were turning to leave a disheveled Buffy appeared with blood running from a cut above her eye and limping on her left foot.

The meeting had gone exactly how Buffy imagined it would. She arrived and was surprised to see Regan sitting on a chair in the middle of the room.

He was a small demon but held a lot of power. He was an orange-reddish color with jet black eyes and short stark white hair. Around him stood twelve Vampires, some of whom Buffy knew.

"Hello Regan, long time no see."

The demon simply smiled, though it looked more like a grimace.

"Buffy, so nice of you to come."

"Well you know me. Always was curious."

She stopped a few feet away from where he was seated.

Regan shifted in his chair. He had met this Vampire before and he knew of her reputation.

"Lets not waste time on pleasantries. Where is the Latorth?"

Buffy smirked. She knew she was right. He wanted the book.

"Now what would a demon like you want with that musty old girly book?"

Buffy could have sworn that his eyes flashed upwards but she never took her attention off him. There was something in the room that oozed power but it wasn't sitting in front of her

"Do you have it?"

"I did. Guess who does now? Your boy was slow. Instead of checking me for it he walked off licking his wounds."

Regan was scared. Buffy could smell it and it left her feeling almost giddy.

"If that's all you wanted them I'm just going to head. It'll be surprising what happens is a few months. If I was you, I'd get out of town fast."

"Why did you do this? You're a demon yourself. That book in the hands of that Slayer will be…she will be unstoppable. I'll make you a trade. I will let you leave here alive or er…dead, and you bring the book back to me."

Buffy pretended to consider that for a moment.

"You know what, think I'm gonna pass. Can't wait for the fireworks."

That's when the Vampires attacked.

Faith looked at the girl in front of her wondering why Willow was hovering while Giles cleaned up the cut on her face.

Buffy looked from the new Slayer to her Slayer and shook her head. She could smell the power coming off her Slayer in waves, but this new one had something else in the mix as well. Buffy wasn't entirely sure but she wasn't worried.

Finally the Watcher was done. Buffy had told him he needn't have bothered but he wasn't put off, so now she had stitches. She was pissed that one of the Vamps had ruined her favorite leather coat. The back had been sliced open. She would have to go to the store in L.A and get a new one now.

"So what did you say when he offered the trade?"

Buffy looked towards the Slayer before answering.

"What do you think I said?" She was hoping that the Slayer trusted her but if she asked that question, maybe she didn't. Least she hadn't asked how Buffy fed yet.

Willow locked eyes with the Vampire before her and thought of everything that had happened from Buffy first arrived in Sunnydale 'til the present time.

She nodded her head at Buffy before walking into Giles office and coming back out with the book.

Buffy let a relieved breath out. She couldn't get over that one pesky human quality she no longer needed.

"What's with the book Will?" It was Faith that had asked and it was Giles who took up the story.

The gang looked to Buffy wondering why she had brought Willow this book when Faith spoke up.

"Who the hell are you anyways?"

Buffy looked at Willow and saw her looking at Faith. Shrugging her shoulders Buffy Vamped out before letting her face return to normal.

Everything happened so fast. Faith had a stake out and raised, Buffy had stood up taking a defensive position and Willow had stepped between them.

"Faith put that away. Buffy, sit down."

The rest of the gang was surprised that Buffy did in fact sit down. Faith however stayed standing.

"Red, move now. She's a Vamp and my job description is very clear," she pointed at Buffy with her stake, "Vampire," then pointed to herself, "Slayer. Dead Vampire."

Buffy snorted trying to hold in her amused laughter. The rest of the gang turned to face her apart from Willow who held Faith's gaze.

Buffy had had enough. Standing she moved over to Giles side, appearing to ignore what was going on around her, but having her senses trained on her Slayer at all times.

"Can I have a word with you?" Giles nodded before leading her into his office and closing the door, getting the feeling that it was important.

Offering her a seat on the couch, he took the desk chair.

"What can I help you with?"

Buffy stood back up and paced over to the window before speaking.

"I did you a huge favor tonight and I need one in return."

Giles stiffened. He didn't want to be indebted to a demon.

"What's the favor?"

Buffy turned to face him and could almost read his thoughts from his expression. Deciding not to linger she began at the beginning.

"When I was turned, I wasn't a normal Vampire. Not at the beginning. In life I had loved my family. My father was killed by a horse when I was ten so it was just me, my mom and my little sister. I would have died for them, in fact I did, but that's another story. When I was turned I had no desire to hurt them, but I knew that Dru and Angelus would, so I staged their deaths with two bodies that had died in a house fire."

Buffy paused, lost in memories. A discreet cough brought her back.

"I moved them to the countryside and got Dru and Angelus out of England. We ended up in Europe. Mom and Dawn were living a happy life. We wrote occasionally but I never visited, but I did have someone check up on them every so often, to make sure they were okay. One July 19, 1780, I got word that they were dead. Dawn was only twelve."

Buffy turned to face Giles and he was surprised by the tear that ran down her cheek. When they locked eyes, he was taken aback by the amount of pain and hate in them.

"Guess who killed them? Can't? Well let me tell you. Seems the Watchers Council didn't like Dru and Angelus and me by association. I don't know how but they found out about my mom and Dawn and went for a visit.

When mom denied knowing I was a Vampire or where I was, they raided the house. They found the letters and accused Mom and Dawn of being demon worshippers. They never even gave them a trail, just slit here throats. Now you've read my files Giles. When did I get violent?"

"1780," came the whispered reply.

"Right. 1780. I wasn't really the Vampire who enjoyed the killing. Oh don't get me wrong I loved the violence, still do, but humans never put up much of a fight, that's why I attacked demons from the day I was turned. Dru could never understand it. Drove her nuts.

From the day I found out about their murders I became every bit the Vampire Dru and Angelus wanted me to be. I had no ties to my humanity anymore. No reason to hold on, so I gave into the demon in me. Let it free. I wanted revenge. To tell the truth, I still do. So I went after the Watchers and Slayers. Killed myself hundreds of Watchers and two Slayers, but never found the men who killed my family."

Buffy stopped pacing. She looked towards the window of the office and saw the Slayer still trying to calm down the new girl.

"The favor is this. Find out the names of the bastards that murdered my family."

"What good will it do? They'd be long dead by now."

Buffy smiled but it wasn't a happy one.

"It would give me closure."

Giles swallowed past the lump in his throat. He never thought that he would feel sympathy towards a demon that had no soul yet had some special quality about her.

"Can I just ask, why have you suddenly stopped the killings? There hasn't been an increase in bodies since you came back to Sunnydale."

"That's because I haven't been killing the victims. It's surprising how many humans get off on the rush of a Vampires bite. They survive the experience and I get to feed. Everyone goes home happy."

Giles nodded his head. He had heard of places where humans went to basically be willing meals. The rush was supposed to be amazing but addictive.

"Yes but why have you stopped killing humans?"

Buffy looked back towards Willow and Giles followed her line of sight.

"I have a reason again."

Part four – Closure

Buffy left Giles in the office and went to sit back down. She completely ignored Faith and turned her attention to the Slayer.

"Fancy talking a patrol around town?"

Willow raised her eyebrow.

"What? Not enough violence for you already tonight?"

Buffy stood up. Reliving the past had made her jittery. She just needed a good kill.

"Yeah well, feel in need for a good kill."

Her words froze everyone but Giles who knew what she was talking about.

"And just what are you killing nowadays anyway Buffy?" Xander hadn't spoken in a while, but that was the first thing that popped into his head.

Buffy skimmed the faces of those present before letting her gaze rest on the Slayer. Buffy could tell that she was just as curious but she really didn't want to get in to how she got her blood right now, after just going through it with Giles.

Surprisingly he came to her rescue.

"Willow go with Buffy, report back if any new threats arise." Turning his attention to Buffy he continued, "I'll find out everything I can. And thank you for the book."

Buffy nodded her head and walked out of the library, Willow right beside her.

"So what was Giles on about?"

Buffy really didn't want to go into her past again so soon.

"No idea."

Willow knew she was lying, but didn't press the issue. She would just ask Giles.

"And don't go bugging your Watcher 'bout it either."

Willow gaped at Buffy.

"How the hell did you know that's what I was going to do?"

Buffy's emotions were on high. Thinking about her mom and Dawn after so long had her nerves frazzled, so she blamed that on what she did next.

She stepped up, invading the Slayer's personal space before speaking,

"I know you, Slayer." The way she said it made the hairs on the back of Willow's neck stand to attention. And not from fear.

"You know, I don't walk around calling you 'Vampire'. Try calling me by my real name for once."

Buffy never moved, still in the Slayer's personal space.

"What is your real name? Willow or Rose?"

Willow moved away, not liking the reminder of L.A or why she was there. Buffy cursed herself before trying to apologize.

"Look I'm-" She got cut off.

"My name is Willow. I used Rose because it's the start of my last name, and I guess I just couldn't let my past go completely."

Buffy walked a little behind the irate Slayer thinking of how to make things less strained when Willow spoke again.

"What was your human name? I can't see your mom naming you Buffy way back then." Willow missed Buffy flinching.

Not hearing an answer, Willow stopped walking and saw Buffy had stopped a few paces behind her.

"No she never named me Buffy but it is a nickname from when I was human. She christened me Elizabeth. Elizabeth Anne. She was the only person to ever call me that. Everyone else used Buffy. I wouldn't let anyone else use it."

Willow walked back to the Vampire and stopped a few paces away sensing she had more to say.

Buffy had no desire to hunt anymore.

"You want to go get a coffee?"

Willow smiled before nodding her head and they headed in the direction of the Espresso Pump, which was right round the corner, knowing that it was open late tonight because of its five year birthday party.

They took a booth in the back and ordered a Mocha and strong black coffee.

Willow sensed that Buffy didn't want to talk about her past and changed the topic.

"So, what've you been up to all month?"

Buffy looked so relieved that Willow almost giggled.

"Traveled to Rome. Knew the book was there. Once I had it I looked up some old friends in Europe before coming back to y...Sunnydale."

"Giles told me the Council have been looking for the book for two hundred years, more than that, so how did you know where it was."

Willow saw that Buffy's eyes filled with hate at the mention of the council but never said anything.

"I knew it was there because it was me who hid it."

Buffy waited for the questions to come and was surprised to find a look of mistrust on the Slayer's face when she looked at her.

"What?"

"Why did you have the book? And why give it to me a few hundred years after stealing it?"

Buffy downed her coffee not caring that it scalded the back of her throat and stood up.

"I never stole anything. The council then, hell even now pisses the hell out of me. I can clearly say I hate them. I gave the book to you because you may be their Slayer but you're not like them. God, you've no idea what…Never mind. All of a sudden I find myself tired. Catch you around Willow."

Willow was too shocked at hearing Buffy call her by her real name that she never had a chance to stop the Vampire from leaving.

Slumping in her chair she finished her drink before heading home and crawling into bed, promising herself that she was going to find out everything there was to know about Buffy from Giles tomorrow. It was Saturday, so school wasn't an issue.

Buffy sat on her bed staring at the drawn picture in her hands. It had been done just before her father was killed.

It showed a well-to-do family standing in a field surrounded by horses. The man stood with his arm around his wife, his ten year old daughter just in front of him and his three year old daughter in his other arm.

Buffy traced the faces of the smiling family. They looked like they hadn't a care in the world. Buffy knew they hadn't. They had been happy.

Lying down in bed with her picture beside her head, Buffy fell asleep, dreaming of the life she once had.

Willow walked with determination to Giles home the next day.

As usual she walked on in without knocking and caught Giles in the middle of a phone call.

"...yes I realize it happened some time ago but I'm sure someone knows. Something like that just can't happen. It has to be authorized by the Head....thank you, I'll be expecting a call then today. Good day."

"Who was that?"

Giles smiled at his Slayer but Willow could tell it was strained.

"It was the council. What are you doing here so early on a Saturday?"

Willow steeled herself. She wanted to learn about Buffy and he was the man to tell her.

"It's Buffy. We were talking last night when she just snapped and walked off."

Giles frowned before asking what they had been talking about.

"Names. What her real one was. I asked 'cause there was no way her parents named their child Buffy back in the 1700s."

Giles closed his eyes as it all clicked into place.

"Let me guess Buffy closed off and then left?"

"Well yes but she left in a bad mood. She told me a little about her mom and how she was the only one allowed to call her Elizabeth, everyone else had to call her Buffy, sort of a nickname. Then I asked about the book and she told me she got it in Rome. When I asked her how she knew it was there she told me she knew because she put it there."

Giles nodded his head. He had suspected that was what happened. The dates all matched. Buffy's family being killed, her going on a rampage and the Latorth going missing.

Willow saw Giles nodding his head.

"You knew?"

Giles hesitated. What Buffy told him, she told him in confidence.

"Willow, why did you come here?"

"I know you, there's something you're keeping from me and I want to know what it is."

"It's not my place to tell you Willow. It's Buffy's."

"Fine, tell me what the books say about her-" She was interrupted by Xander walking in.

"What are you doing up at this hour?"

"Folks were fighting and I couldn't sleep. What we talking about?"

Willow pulled her friend down beside her and told him Giles was about to tell her about Buffy from what the books said.

Giles sighed knowing she wouldn't let this drop. So he told them. He left out the more gruesome killings, of people he now knew to be Watchers.

Willow and Xander left at lunchtime to meet the rest of the gang, leaving Giles to stare at the telephone.

Dusk fell and Giles was still waiting for his phone to ring. What he wasn't expecting was the knock on the door.

Answering it he found Buffy on the other side.

"You don't have to invite me in or anything but I was just wondering if you'd spoken to the Council yet?"

Giles heard the tone she used when mentioning the people he worked for and he couldn't blame her in the slightest. He also heard the hope in her voice at finally finding out the names of the people who killed her family.

Moving back he shocked the hell out of Buffy.

"Come in."

Buffy's eyes opened wide before she composed herself and walked inside the Watchers home.

"Never saw that coming."

Giles, ever the Englishman offered her a cup of tea, which she declined but accepted the coffee when offered.

"I contacted the Council this morning, I'm still waiting to hear-" the telephone rang.

"Hello, Rupert Giles speaking…hello Wesley did you find out the information I wanted?…No I don't but I can give you a friends…no I trust this person…Wesley just do it…right you have a pen…good take this down witchfu@sunnyhs.com…you get that? Good. Thank you Wesley, you've been a big help."

Giles hung up the phone a turned to face Buffy. Funny that he felt no fear letting a Vampire into his home, even one who openly hates his employers and was know to kill Watchers and the odd Slayer.

"He found the names. Wesley is sending them by e-mail to Tara's address."

Buffy was nearly out the door.

"Right so I have to go see the quiet one then."

Giles stopped her before she left.

"Stay, she can bring her laptop here. I'll give her a call now. Beside, you scare the hell out of her."

The gang were sitting in the Bronze when Tara's cell rang.

"Hello? Oh hey Mr Giles, what's up?…sure I can stop by a grab it on the way…okay then see you in a while."

Willow was already on her feet not wanting her friend to walk alone after dark. The rest of the gang followed suit.

Half an hour later they were walking in Giles front door.

Everyone paused at seeing Buffy sitting in the armchair reading through one of Giles books.

"Good your here. Tara can you log onto your e-mail and receive a message I have waiting? I'm sorry to give out your address but I don't have one and it was important."

"No problem." As Tara got to work Willow walked over to crouch beside the Vampire who had yet to acknowledge their presence.

"Buffy?" nothing, "Buffy?" it was louder this time but still nothing.

Willow attempted to take the Book away when she was suddenly faced with one pissed off Vampire staring straight at her.

When Buffy realized who she was growling at she stopped and let out an involuntary purr as a sorry.

Willow, who was the only one to hear the purr, looked at Buffy trying to figure out what was going on. She was also trying to stop her bodies reaction to hearing it directed at herself.

She never got to say anything because Buffy had noticed the rest staring at her and she saw Tara sitting typing away on the computer.

Jumping up she walked over to the blonde and stood beside Giles.

"Wes EAS authorized. Is that it Giles?"

"Yes Tara could you open it for me?"

Tara did then moved away to let him read it in private.

Buffy stayed put and stared at the screen. She read what the Watcher had sent and her borrowed blood boiled.

Buffy tore her eyes away from those words to read the names of the people involved.

Buffy now had her names.

"Does it say how they died?"

The gang who had stayed away came forward at the growled words; each silently read the words on the screen.

Giles scrolled down, thankful that he had asked Wesley to do this, knowing he would send everything there was.

Buffy closed her eyes and took it all in. Dru had been the one to tip off the council. The bastards were dead and-

Buffy's eyes popped open. Moving Giles out of the way she scrolled the page back up.

Buffy had killed one of them. She remembered killing him because he had said something at the time which she couldn't work out;

Buffy wasn't aware she had spoken out loud.

Xander was confused.

"Who is this Elizabeth Summers anyway?"

Buffy moved away from the computer. Giles followed her with his eyes.

"What did you mean?"

Buffy turned to look at the Watcher.

"Seems I did get to kill one of them after all. Manners. I remember him specifically because that's what he said to me as I killed him."

The others turned to look at Giles expecting him to react to that. He simply gave Buffy a smile and a nod.

"So who's this Elizabeth person?" Xander wanted an answer.

Willow had figured it out. Watching the emotions play across Buffy's face was the give away.

"It's Buffy. Buffy is Elizabeth."

Buffy looked at Willow before nodding her head, though it wasn't necessary.

"Now you know why I hate the council so much."

"Wait your real name is Elizabeth? I can see why you chang-" Xander never got to finish his sentence.

Buffy had him pinned to the wall by the kitchen and was growling at him before anyone could react.

"Never make fun of that name. You don't get to say that name." It was spit out between fangs that were itching to be buried in his scrawny neck.

Xander for the first time realized that he'd over stepped the mark. Reading what he did off the screen he could tell what had happened to Elizabeth's family.

Willow didn't hesitate. She pulled Buffy off Xander, letting him fall to the ground chocking and took on the angry Vampire.

Amber eyes locked into green and no one in the room moved.

"I think you've over stayed your welcome-"

"Willow-"

"-no Giles she's right. Thank you for helping. You didn't have to so thanks."

Buffy turned her attention away from the Slayer in front of her, not wanting to get into a fight with the girl who was starting to make her feel again and faced the Watcher.

It took some effort to shake off the demon face but she did. Buffy walked by Xander who was still on the ground by stopped when he called her name.

"You should stay away from me right now."

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

Buffy walked out the door without a backwards glance and headed for the closest cemetery.

Part five – Kissing

A/N – just incase any one was confused; Willow and Dru were in a relationship. Think Buffy/Angel only have Willow/Dru instead -

Willow stared at her reflection. The dress looked good. The green matched her eyes and complimented her hair. It had spaghetti straps, and a tight bodice but flowing skirt.

Tonight was the homecoming dance and the whole gang was going. Only difference was that Willow was going stag. Xander was taking Cordy, Oz was with Tara and Faith wasn't going because she wasn't a student.

Willow didn't really mind going alone for the most part, but she would have loved to have at least one dance.

Hearing the front doorbell she left her room and went to answer it.

Cordy stood on the other side wearing a strapless red form fitting dress that hugged every curve.

"God you look amazing."

"You too. We'd better hurry, the driver has more calls to make, we still have to pick up Tara and Oz."

"Okay. Mom I'm off. See you in the morning."

Buffy watched from the shadows as the Slayer walked to the limo. They hadn't spoke since the incident at the Watchers home and that was two months ago.

Buffy had been in contact with the Watcher, letting him know when something demonic sprung up, and she had heard about the dance tonight. The school was holding it at the Bronze, so Buffy figured that she'd crash it. Just to make sure everything went okay though. She had no plans on letting the Slayer know she was there. She wasn't exactly her favorite person to be around right now.

Entering the Bronze, Buffy made her way to the bar and ordered a bottle of beer before making her way up to the balcony overlooking the dance floor and bar.

The werewolf's band was playing tonight so she was sure the Slayer would be dancing and not sitting.

She didn't have to wait long for the gang to enter. They made their way to a table Oz had arranged for them at the very edge of the dance floor, giving Buffy the perfect view of the Slayer. Buffy looked down at her drink. It was empty. Sighing she made her way back to the bar and figured that she'd just tell Tony to send someone up to her every half hour or so with a refresh.

Willow had that feeling again. The one where she knew she was being watched. Sitting down and scanning the club she couldn't pin point anyone but there was a definite vibe.

"Okay guys who wants a drink?"

"Coke."

"Coke."

"Sprite."

"Water."

"Be right back." Xander turned to look at the queue by the bar before adding, "maybe."

He made his way over to the bar and through the crowd of people standing there. He bumped into someone making them stumble.

"God sorry, my bad you-" he stopped when he saw it was Buffy.

Buffy looked at him, before walking up to the bar and ordering another drink, she would have to sort something out with Tony. She couldn't be bothered having to walk down the steps every time she wanted a fresh beer.

"How come you get first dibs? This place is packed tonight."

Buffy smirked and took her drink before walking away.

"Hey you never even paid!"

Stopping Buffy just wanted him to shut the hell up.

"Why are you even here? This is a school party. No evil undead allowed."

Buffy walked up to him smiling when he stepped back.

"I get 'first dibs' as you put it because I own the place. Have a nice night." With a smile at his open mouthed expression, Buffy headed back to where she had been standing before remembering she forgot to tell Tony about her drinks.

Cursing she headed back and avoided Xander, who was still trying to get served.

The dance had been going on for three hours and she hadn't danced yet. She'd had offers but had gracefully declined each one. Willow watched as her friends enjoyed themselves and couldn't help feeling envious. Lonely.

Buffy hadn't moved from her spot. She had watched the Slayer laugh with her friends and shake her head when asked to dance by young men. Buffy had noticed that no girls had asked the Slayer to dance. She found that strange because she had noticed the looks some were giving her. She'd been fighting the urge to hurt them all night.

Taking out her cell phone, which had just started vibrating, she saw Tony's name on caller ID.

"What?"

"Boss, we have a slight problem.

Buffy waited for him to continue but he stalled.

"I'm not getting any younger here Tony. What's going on?"

"A Vamp just came in. She looks kinda wild. We have her out back."

Buffy cursed before answering.

"Where are you now?"

"Back exit. Left side."

"Right."

Buffy hung up and made her way there, bypassing the Slayer's table. She knew that the Slayer now knew she was there but she really didn't want a confrontation when she had a problem to take care of.

Willow saw Buffy make her way to the back exit and stood up intending to follow.

"Where you going?"

"Xand, I'm just going to the bathroom. Let the guys know yeah?"

She never gave him a chance to answer and was gone before he knew it.

Buffy stepped outside and saw Tony and a few of the more beefy bouncers dealing with a Vamp.

She watched for a minute as the Vamp evaded her men again and again before putting a stop to it.

"Guys. Back away. Now."

They did as they were told, leaving the Vampire backed by the wall.

Buffy looked at the girl, recognizing her straight off.

"Lucy?"

The Vampire looked up.

"Oh thank god! I've been looking for you all night."

Before Buffy could react the Vampire was hanging onto her with its full strength.

Roughly pushing the other demon off her Buffy took a step back.

"When did this happen?"

"Last week. That's why I haven't been back to-"

"Guys you wanna get back to work? I got this." Buffy didn't want it getting out about how she never killed humans anymore. She did have a rep to maintain.

"Sure boss." They opened the door going inside, giving Willow the chance to slip out.

"Great," muttered Buffy. "Slayer this doesn't concern you."

"What happened to Willow?" Willow walked over until they were side by side.

Buffy simply stared at her before turning her attention back to Lucy.

"Continue."

The younger Vampire did.

"A new Vamp came to the house. Instead of stopping, he carried on and I wake up like this."

Buffy simply looked at her.

"Why come to me?"

At that the Vamp tilted her head to the side. A seductive look crossing her demonic features.

"Your bites always were the best." It came out as a purr, the Vampire remembering Buffy's bites.

Willow looked on in confusion but Buffy knew exactly what the other Vampire wanted.

"You have got be kidding me."

"Okay I'm confused here."

Buffy turned to look at the Slayer as did the other Vampire, who was only just noticing that there was a human standing beside Buffy.

"Come on. We can share this one then-"

The stake that was now lodged through her chest stopped her. Before she turned to dust she turned betrayed eyes to Buffy.

Willow looked between the dust and the Vampire beside her.

"Explain."

By the look on the Slayer's face Buffy knew she wouldn't be put off. Not this time.

"Fine but not here. Follow me."

Buffy led Willow to a part of the club she had never been in. The back of the club had a set of stairs running all the way up. At the top was a steel door, which Buffy opened.

"Welcome to my place."

Willow walked in and had a look around. The walls were painted in two colors. Red and white. It was spacious, with a leather couch and entertainment center in the middle of the room and a kitchen off to the left. There were two doors which Willow assumed led to bathroom and bedroom, and odds and ends surrounding the rest of the room.

"I thought you lived at the mansion."

Buffy sat on the couch indicating for willow to do so as well.

"I did, but I was spending most of the time here so I figured that I may as well just move in." Buffy didn't see the need in telling the Slayer that the Bronze was closer to the center of town which also meant closer to her.

Willow sat and gave Buffy all her attention, wanting to know what the hell has been going on lately.

"So speak."

Buffy gave a mock salute before starting. She wanted to get everything off her chest so she started with when she was turned.

She told Willow about, her mom and sister, the council and why she hated them, she told her about the feeding; not pausing when the Slayer interrupted and she explained why she had hidden the book in the first place.

When she was done, Willow had one question.

"What did that Vamp mean? About the bite, about your bite?"

Buffy mentally shrugged her shoulders. If the Slayer believed her or not, she asked. She laid her head back against the leather.

"See Slayer, Vampires, when we want to, are very passionate beings. When a Vamp Sires a human, they make the bite either painful or pleasurable. Usually it's painful, unless the Vampire is n a giving mood."

Closing her eyes Buffy remembered her own turning and how much it hurt before opening them and looking straight at the Slayer.

"When the bite is painful, it hurts like hell, but when it's pleasurable, its one of the most intense things a human can experience. The fangs slip into human necks like a hot knife through butter, the suckling of the blood, it's a rush. When a Vamp takes off a donor like I've been doing, the bite has to pleasurable or the humans won't come back."

Buffy could tell that the Slayer didn't really believe or want to believe her.

"Guess Lucy just liked the fact that I made her come every time I bit her. Wave after wave of pleasure slamming into her body."

Willow didn't know what to think. She had always been told that a Vampires bite was deadly and painful, yet here was Buffy talking like it was the next best thing. She was also a little jealous that Buffy was connecting with other girls that way and kinda turned on, but she wasn't admitting that.

Standing up she moved over to a window that overlooked the entire club. Scanning the crowd she spotted her friends, dancing to a song she couldn't hear. The rest of the teenagers dancing with an innocence she no longer had.

Turning to face Buffy, she jumped when she realized that she was right behind her.

Buffy moved her face close, but not too close, into the Slayers neck and asked in a low, husky voice;

"The bite becomes addictive, if the human is weak. They crave the pleasure. Would you be a weak human Slayer?"

Willow pushed away.

"God, you expect me to believe all that?" Willow tried to appear strong, but the trouble was she did believe it.

The Slayer in her was telling her, on some basic level, that everything Buffy had said was true. And Buffy knew exactly what was going through the Slayers mind. She could also smell her desire and confusion.

Buffy let the smell of the Slayers desire get to her and before she knew what she was doing, she had her lips pressed to the Slayers, who was too startled to react at first.

When she did react Buffy found herself pressed against a wall with an eager Slayer in front of her.

Willow was tired. She was tired of trying to sort out her feelings for the blonde Vampire and she was tired of being alone.

Mouths opened and tongues fought for dominance before Willow found herself with her back against the wall and Buffy pressed tightly against her.

Even though she was kissing the girl she had fallen for hard, Buffy was conflicted. One the one hand she had what she wanted, but on the other, she knew that the Slayer wasn't really there with her in the moment.

Willow was simply tired of being lonely but Buffy wanted it all. She was a Vampire, therefore morals weren't big on her agenda but she knew that if she didn't stop the kiss that the Slayer would be in her bed and naked in the next few minutes and that she would ultimately regret it.

Pulling the Slayers body closer to her, Buffy kissed her harder and deeper, before pulling back and trapping the Slayers bottom lip between her blunt teeth.

Willow moaned as Buffy ran her tongue along the trapped lip, and made a little mewling sound when she bit down. Buffy grinned against her mouth before sucking on the lip again before biting down harder; Willow made the same sound and pressed against Buffy, leaving no space between their bodies.

Buffy moved her hand up and palmed a breast making Willow arch and moan louder before grabbing Buffy's head and kissing her for all she was worth. When Buffy felt the Slayer move towards the buttons on her leather pants, she knew it had gone too far.

Pulling out of the kiss Buffy backed away.

Willow opened her eyes and everything hit her at once. She was standing in Buffy's place; actively kissing said Vampire, hell groping her and being groped and enjoying it. But Buffy had stopped. Willow tried pulling her back but Buffy stayed back.

"As much as I want to, and believe me I really *really* do, I can't let you do something your gonna regret in the morning."

Buffy watched as the Slayers eyes turned angry before she stomped out, leaving Buffy confused, hurt and horny as hell.

Part six – Confrontations

Willow didn't even bother going back to the gang; she simply left the club before going home and changing into her Slayer gear.

Picking the largest cemetery, she began scowling the area looking for Vamps.

As she walked, she muttered under her breath the whole time, causing a stray Vampire to hear and investigate.

"...then she stops! What the hell was I thinking. Vampires! No good there! I shou-"

"Hey Slayer, you gonna talk to yourself all night? 'Cause I could sell tick-" he was cut off when Willow shoved a stake through his heart.

Sensing another Vampire behind her, Willow turned and launched into a round-house kick that brought the Vamp to its knees and was just about to stake it, when a hand stopped her.

Buffy looked at the Slayer, at the stake which was millimeters from her heart and then to her hand, holding the Slayer's at bay.

"Okay, I get that your angry, but is staking me really the way to vent?"

Willow moved back and turned to walk away. Buffy followed her and spun her around, getting punched in the face for her troubles.

Regaining focus, Buffy launched into her own attack and soon they were involved in a full out fight. Slayer against Vampire.

As Buffy threw Willow over a grave stone, she followed her and as the Slayer landed, Buffy was right on top, pinning her arms to the sides with her own arms and her legs to the ground with her thighs.

"Would you stop!" It was growled through a mouthful of fangs. Taking a second to get herself under control, Buffy reverted to her human face.

"I only came to talk, not fight. If I let you go are you gonna go all rampagie?" asked Buffy.

Willow gave a small shake of her head and Buffy stood up offering her a hand, which was rejected.

"What do we have to talk about?"

Buffy looked at the Slayer like she'd lost her mind.

"We kissed." There was something in Buffy's voice that Willow couldn't place. Was it longing, disgust or pain?

"Yeah so?"

Buffy turned to hide the flash of pain from those two words, but Willow had already saw it and it just confused her even more. Trying to control her own emotions she starting talking.

"Look, I can't do this. Not again. Once was enough for the Vampire thing. Hell look how that ended-"

"I'm nothing like her!" If there was one thing Buffy hated it was being compared to Dru.

"Exactly. You have no soul." Willow regretted it as soon as she said it, for while Buffy didn't have a soul, she had a special something that made her different from the run of the mill Vampire.

Buffy counted to ten in five languages to calm herself down.

"This isn't about the soul thing, hell its not even about the demon thing. Your scared. Dru really did a number on you didn't she? Messed you up so that every other relationship you even *think* of having is tainted by her memory and your fears."

Willow knew that on some level Buffy was right but she was to tired and confused to examine her feelings that closely and opted for the easy way out.

"I need to go check in with Giles. We can talk about this some other time."

Buffy watched her walk away and called after her,

"I'm holding you to that."

Willow made her way through the cobbled streets having no idea where she was or where she was going. Turning to her let she saw a face she never expected to see ever again which was what finally convinced her that she was dreaming.

She watched as Dru followed a young girl who she could only see from the back. Behind Dru was Angelus, Spike and Darla.

Willow suddenly knew just who the young girl was.

"Buffy." The whisper forced Willow to move and she followed the Vampires.

Willow watched as Buffy stopped to help a child find a lost toy. As she watched the child began to talk.

"Mama said that Mrs Greer might be coming for tea."

"Which means I get to dress you up Dawnie," replied Buffy.

Willow's eyes went wide and she mouthed Dawn's name.

"Come on little sister, we should be getting back. Mama will worry."

As Buffy began to lead her little sister away, willow saw the Vampire's approach them. She watched as Dru took charge of the situation, stepping into Buffy's line of passage.

"Excuse me." Buffy tried to walk passed her but Dru blocked her way.

Willow looked on in horror as Buffy pushed her little sister behind her and forced her to run while the Vampires restrained her. Willow had tears in her own eyes as the little girl ran away screaming for someone to save her sister from the monsters and having no one help her because they never believed monsters to be true.

Willow had no control over herself as she followed the Vampires and a struggling Buffy to an ally way. She watched as a person she had once loved tore violently into the neck of someone she knew she was falling for.

Dru had Buffy pinned against the wall, her fangs buried in her neck and Buffy was screaming in pain and for help to no avail.

Just as Willow locked eyes with Buffy she saw an expression of pain and acceptance in her eyes. Pain for the death and acceptance for the fact that it was her and her little sister was safe by now.

She watched Buffy take her dying breath and felt a presence behind her. Tuning she came face to face with her Buffy and could only stare as she stared back.

"Now you know why I hate her so much, and hey, you got to see Dawn. She was such a cute kid, annoying sometimes but still..." Buffy trailed off looking in the direction Dawn had fled.

Willow placed a hand on Buffy shoulder, surprised when it made contact.

"Why am I here?" asked Willow.

Buffy turned sad eyes to her but had no answer other than;

"I haven't dreamt this for a long time, yet it isn't really a dream, there's a strange vibe like were really here but unable to affect the reality. Or events."

Willow hadn't considered that possibility yet.

"How do you know we can't affect the reality?"

"Because I tried to talk to Dawn but all that happened was me finally getting to see what happened to her that night."

When Buffy didn't continue Willow prodded her for a conclusion to that.

"She ran into the arms of my mother and cried her little eyes out. I watched them for a while, saw them look for me, never thought that they did before tonight…I know that you think of me as nothing more than a Soulless Vampire and I don't blame you but could you just..."

Buffy trailed off not knowing how to ask for what she wanted.

Willow seemed to know and never hesitated in wrapping Buffy in a strong hug.

The Vampire clung to the Slayer with the knowledge, that she was once loved by her family and watched as her past self was turned into a demon.

They both felt it at the same time. The dream or whatever they were in was slowly fading. Willow noticed that Buffy tightened her hold before she was forced to let go. She felt the small kiss that Buffy placed on her cheek, the sensation lingering when she woke in her bed at home.

Willow didn't even think. She was dressed and out her bedroom widow in five minutes and patrolling Sunnydale. She needed to let off steam and this was the perfect way to do it.

In one night she had nearly gone to second base with a Vampire, fought with said Vampire, then entered some dreamlike world – that she would really have to get Giles to explain – then watched as the aforementioned Vampire was turned. Other than that she had also realized that she had feelings for Buffy, soulless or not.

Giving up on the hunt she headed to the one person who always pointed her in the right direction.

"I have no idea what to tell you."

Willow looked at Giles like he had two heads.

"What'd'ya mean? You always know what to say. Tell me what to do here Giles. I'm falling for *another* Vamp and this one doesn't even have the soul excuse. Is it me? Am I just attracted to dead people? You my watcher, your supposed to have all the answers!"

Giles merely looked at her before finally knowing just what to say.

"Willow, I know that you will make the right decision, though I feel I must impress upon the fact that Buffy *is* a demon, no matter that her actions of late have forgone her nature. Whatever you decide to do, keep that in mind and know that you have my support either way."

The next day, Buffy was up early. Well early for a Vampire anyway. It was two hours until sundown and she was on a mission.

She had heard talk a Vampire had set up shop in the Masters old lair. She wanted to know who. But first she was hungry.

Taking the tunnels that ran all over Sunnydale, Buffy arrived at 'the house'. Going inside she saw people sprawled everywhere. They reminded her of junkies waiting for their next fix.

Shaking her head she made her way upstairs to one of the bedrooms. Inside she found Nikkie, who looked up when she heard the door open.

"Buffy, thank god your here."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"Lucy's dead, well vamped anyway."

"Yeah I know, I dusted her last night. Can we get on with this because I have places I need to be."

Nikkie moved from the chair she was sitting in and walked over to Buffy being as seductive as possible before taking her hand and leading her to the bed.

"Think you'll stay this time?"

"Not a chance."

Buffy Vamped out and smelt the girls arousal, though it did nothing for her. She let Nikkie arrange herself on the bed before leaning over her and sinking in her fangs.

Nikkie's body arched up in pleasure. She tried grabbing at Buffy's body to pull her down but Buffy didn't want to follow her. With a growl she drank deeper, the blood filling her hunger, but not by much. She needed more.

After a few more mouthfuls she stopped, knowing that to take much more would hurt the girl. Sitting up she licked her fangs before leaning over again and cleaning the blood off the girls neck, who was still coming down from her orgasm.

"Who else is here tonight?" Buffy saw a flash of jealously cross Nikkie's face before she covered it up.

"Peter is down the hall in the third room on the left and Macy is right next door."

Buffy left the room, never looking back and walked next door to find Macy.

Macy was one of those girls who liked it rough. Buffy walked into the room and without even a hello had her fangs buried in the other girls neck, adding bit of sting this time.

Macy cried out in pleasure and pushed her body into Buffy's from the wall she was leaning against.

Buffy didn't want the contact but she allowed it this time. Growling as she fed, she took her fill and as she removed her fangs she let them graze the skin the entire time.

Macy was coming down off the high as Buffy was leaving the room.

"Fuck yeah. That's the stuff."

Buffy smirked but never looked back and made her way back to the tunnels as there was still some daylight outside.

Keeping in game face as she made her way through the tunnels wasn't a conscious thought. It was like she couldn't switch back.

When she arrived at the old Lair, she felt the magic in the air and wondered if that was the reason.

What she found wasn't a Vamp, hell it wasn't even a demon. It was a warlock. One who hadn't noticed her yet for some reason.

He was a tall man with red hair that was tied back. He wore a black silk suit and those fifty style shoes where the shoe is all black with a white patch on the front. The pendant around his neck Buffy vaguely recognized but couldn't place.

She felt another presence enter the cave and turned to see who it was. This man she knew. She had made it her business to know all members of the council.

"Mr Travers, your early. The event isn't to happen until three weeks from now." Came the deep voice of the warlock.

"Dior, I just wanted to make sure everything was going as planned. This is very important to the council. She cannot be allowed to keep that book much longer, if her power grows…we need a Slayer we can control, not one who has no respect for authority." Buffy had to keep herself in check when she realized what he was talking about. He wanted rid of the slayer.

"I do not believe that the Council of Watchers has changed so much that they now kill their Slayer's. Time was they helped. The spell is almost ready. It will be complete in two weeks which leaves a week for planning. Go back to your hotel and wait until then." The warlock dismissed Travers who left, not sensing the Vampire behind him.

Buffy followed Travers to a hotel on the north side of town. As he had left in a car she had to follow his scent. Toying with the idea of just going in and killing him now, she was about to do that when she say the Slayer's watcher go into the same hotel.

Buffy was confused and wanted to what the hell was going on so she waited for Giles to come back out. She didn't have to wait long as it turned out because he was back in a few minutes.

As he was about to get into his car, Giles just *knew* someone was behind him and turned, relieved when he saw Buffy. He shouldn't have been.

Buffy was still in game face. Growling she pinned Giles to the hood of his car by a hand to his throat.

"Buffy?" It was squeaked out as he didn't have much room to talk.

She seemed to realize what she was doing and pulled pack. She didn't like the fact that she wasn't in control of her own senses at the moment. Deciding to deal with it later she turned her attention back to the watcher.

"Why were you with him?" It was growled out thought a mouthful of fangs.

"Can we finish this somewhere else? Get in and we can go to the library." They couldn't stay there or they would be spotted.

Buffy got into the car and used all her power to try switching out of game face but she couldn't.

Giles noticed.

"What are you still..." he didn't know how to put it exactly.

"I can't change back."

He had no answer for that and they made the trip in silence.

Although Giles trusted the demon with his to some extent he was still glad that when they arrived at the library Willow and the others were there.

Buffy walked in behind Giles still in game face. The reactions differed.

Xander looked freaked, Cordy looked bored, Tara was inching back further into Oz who showed no emotion apart from his arms tightening around Tara and Willow looked confused as to why they were all reacting like that.

Giles led Buffy into his office after saying hello to the group.

Once they were inside Buffy spoke.

"Travers wants the Slayer dead. Why were you talking to him?" She didn't trust Watchers, yet she had trusted him and if it turned out that he was in on whatever Travers was up to she would kill him slowly.

"A friend of mine on the council board rang late last night. It seems Travers requested the Slayer be tested, not by the Cruciamentum. a warlock is brought in and the Slayer must face him. It has never been successful. How did you know?"

Speaking through fangs Buffy told him everything she had saw and everything she had heard Travers say. By the end Giles was furious.

Standing up he marched outside, Buffy following behind him.

Willow, who had been watching the door and straining to hear what was being said jumped when they came out.

"What's going on? First Buffy is still all Vampy and second you mentioned Travers, test and Warlock in there. That can't be good."

Buffy smirked at the Slayer, though in Vamp face it looked scary.

"Sit down. A new threat is here and we need to deal with it now. First I need to call the council."

Buffy growled loudly making everyone but Willow jump. Her reaction was slightly different and Buffy noticed. Filing that information away for later use, she turned to Giles.

"They. Are. In. On. It. There's no way He could do this on his own."

"I don't think they are. All they know is that Travers is performing a test, not conspiring to kill."

"WHAT!?!"

Part seven – Past, Present and Future

Buffy looked from the Slayer to her watcher. Seeing that he was busy on the phone she walked to the Slayer and nodded that she should follow her.

They sat at the table and everyone else apart from Giles joined them.

"What was he talking about?" Willow was trying to stay calm.

Buffy was also trying to stay calm, but still couldn't shake off her demon.

"Travers met with a warlock today. He plans on killing you. I followed him and was going to kill him when your Watcher turned up. After a brief…talk…we both headed here. Now he's on the phone calling England and finding out what they know." The was pauses between the growls, letting Willow know that just getting the words out was hard for the Vampire.

"How come your all Vampy still?"

"Can't shift." More growls.

Willow was starting to panic again. Travers was consorting with a Warlock to kill her, Giles was talking to England and Buffy was acting feral.

Buffy had been watching the Slayer and every feeling she had centered on one specifically: need. Not even realizing she was moving, Buffy closed the gap between them and pounced.

Willow had maybe a spilt second warning before Buffy was on her. She dimly heard Xander's shout, Cordy's protest and Tara's gasp, but all she could feel was Buffy. Buffy's lips, fangs and tongue.

Buffy felt Willow responding to her kiss and couldn't help herself from trying to further it, though the chair was restricting her, so Buffy broke the arms of it to get her body closer to the Slayer's.

The gang heard the chair arm snap and moved as one. Xander, Cordy, Tara and even Oz all grabbed hold of Buffy and dragged her away from a dazed Willow.

Buffy didn't take kindly to the interruption and let them all know with a snarl before moving to go to Willow again, who was still dazed from the kiss and the feeling it invoked.

Buffy never made it. As she looked down at the dart embedded in her arm, her last thought before blackness took her was that she would eventually have the Slayer, her Slayer.

Xander was the first to speak.

"Okay, what in the hell was that all about?"

Willow's hand lifted and her fingers brushed against her mouth, still feeling Buffy there even after the kiss. Xander and the others noticed the reaction.

"You've gotta be kidding me! There is no way your have lusty feelings for *another* Vamp!"

At his shout, Willow realized what she was doing and lowered her hand.

"One Vampire wasn't enough, so you move on to the next one? What is it with you?" Willow was about to speak when Giles silenced them all.

"Xander! That is enough."

Willow stood up walked to where Buffy was sprawled out on the floor. She bent and lifted the dead weight into her arms before looking at Giles, silently asking him what to do.

He answered by walking to the book cage they used for Oz and opened the door. Willow nodded and walked in and gently lay Buffy on the ground before removing her jacket and rolling it up to use as a pillow.

The cage door was looked and everyone sat back down, all now looking towards the cage for some sign of the Vampire waking.

It was Willow who broke the uncomfortable silence.

"What did England say?"

"It seems that they did know Travers was planning something but they assumed it was a simple test."

"Test?"

Giles looked to his Slayer and knew he would have to tell her and that when he did she wasn't going to be happy.

"When, if the Slayer reaches her eighteenth birthday she is given a test. The Slayer is disabled and then entrapped with a vampire foe whom she must defeat in order to pass the test. This is called the Cruciamentum.

She would be injected with an organic compound…of muscle relaxants and adrenal suppressers. The effect is temporary, then she would have to fend off the Vampire in question.

That is the test that is usually given, the one Travers wants to do, hasn't been used for years. Centuries even."

Giles finished and was almost afraid to look into Willow's eyes to see how she had taken the news.

Willow looked to her Watcher and heard everything he hadn't told her about the drugs, like who would be the person to give them to her.

"You?"

Giles answered her honestly.

"Yes, In matters of tradition and protocol, I must answer to the Council, but believe me when I say that I would have found a way to help you if you needed it. No matter the cost. You would not have faced that test alone, nor will you face this one alone."

Willow stood, she need to think.

"Keep an eye on Buffy."

She left without another word.

The others looked from one to the other, not sure what to say or do. Their choice however was taken from them when Buffy woke up, much faster than Giles would have suspected.

Buffy took in her surrounding and the fact that the Scooby gang minus the Slayer were sitting not that far away.

Giles watched as Buffy became lucid and let out a relieved breath when she reverted to her human face.

Buffy stood up knowing that something was seriously wrong. First she hadn't been able to shake off her demon all day and then she had groped the Slayer in front of everyone. Not that she really minded that part.

Standing up she looked at the locked cage door and then up at Giles.

"Where's the Slayer?"

Giles walked a little closer to the cage, ignoring Xander's advice not to.

"She's gone. I explained everything to her about council tests and she needed time to process everything."

Buffy nodded before stepping up to the door.

"Open it."

Giles looked like he was going to argue when Buffy spoke again.

"Either you open it or I break it down."

Xander raised the gun and pointed it at Buffy.

"Then I put you down."

Buffy didn't even spare him a look.

"Watcher I know that something strange was going on today, but I'm fine now and I really want out of this thing so just open the damn door."

Buffy took three steps out of the school building before a scent hit her. Turning her head she saw the Slayer sitting on a bench with her head in her hands.

She walked over trying to make as much noise as possible and was glad when the Slayer raised her head. She hadn't been as out of it as she had looked.

Willow spotted Buffy right after her senses screamed 'Vampire'. She moved over on the bench to give her more room to sit.

"How did you get out?"

"Giles opened the door. Whatever was happening seems to have stopped." Buffy reached up and put an arm around the Slayer, relaxing when it wasn't shrugged off.

Willow rested her head on Buffy's shoulder and closed her eyes. It was funny she thought, here she was, the Slayer, and she felt no fear at having a Vampire that close to her.

Buffy tightened her grip before asking if she was okay.

"Tired. Confused. Hurt. Angry. Frustrated even."

Buffy buried her face in Willow's hair before inhaling her scent.

Standing up she tugged on the Slayer's hand. When they started walking she never let it go.

Willow never spoke, she just concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Tears clouded her vision, but they never fell.

Buffy walked Willow up the front steps to her house before asking if her mom was home.

"No, she's in L.A, some art thingy."

Willow opened the door and went in, mimicking her actions, Buffy tried to follow, only to find she had no invitation here yet.

Trying not to growl, she waited to see what the Slayer would do.

***

Willow looked at the Vampire that was currently snuggled up against her and making purring noises in her sleep.

Buffy had an arm wrapped around Willow's waist and a leg thrown over her, possessively keeping her in place.

They had gone up to Willow's room last night and lay on the bed. Buffy listened as Willow spoke. She got out everything that was upsetting her; Giles, the council, her friends reaction earlier tonight when they kissed and of course the new threat, not to mention Buffy's state that day.

Buffy never commented on anything, she just held Willow and let her get everything out. When Willow finally stopped Buffy was going to talk when she noticed that the Slayer had fallen asleep.

Now Willow watched her and felt things she hadn't felt since Dru. It'd been a long time since she had someone she could really talk to.

Sure she had her friends, but they could never truly understand, they weren't the Slayer. Nobody realized how hard it was to reign it in everyday, not to use the strength she had at her disposable.

Dru had understood. She had, well not the same problem, she was a Vampire with a soul, not the Slayer, but she knew about power and having to control herself.

Buffy was like that too, Willow realized. Here she was, a Vampire, one who didn't have soul affecting her and yet she belied her nature. Sure she had at one point been a vicious killer but Willow had a feeling that that was now all behind her.

Still, thinking of Dru wasn't as hard as it had been. Willow knew she had to let go of the past and she had an idea of how to do it.

She gently lifted Buffy's arm and scooted from under her leg before leaving the bed. Buffy frowned in her sleep before settling back down again.

Willow quickly put on shoes and lifted a stake before going over to her jewelry box and getting what she needed.

She closed the bedroom door as quietly as possible before setting off.

The mansion seemed smaller than Willow remembered. She stood in the spot where she had killed her lover and remember not all the bad times but the good.

Taking the small silver ring out of her pocket she looked at its design.

It was plain apart from an engraving on the back. it read 'To the Keeper of my Soul' Willow placed the ring in roughly the spot where she had killed Dru and said goodbye to her past and opened her heart to her future before leaving the mansion.

***

Buffy was pacing the living room. She had woken up and noticed that the Slayer was gone. She was about to go look for her when she realized that the Sun had risen.

So she paced.

Last night had been, well to Buffy anyway, it had been amazing. Waking up alone though led her to think that the Slayer hadn't felt the same way. Buffy sighed before going back up to the bedroom and getting a blanket before walking back down the stairs.

Wrapping it around her self she prepared to open the door when the Slayer was suddenly there.

"Going somewhere?" Willow tried to hide her nervousness but Buffy got it anyway.

"Figured you were giving me enough time to be gone before you got back." Buffy, like Willow couldn't hide her feelings.

Willow took the blanket off the Vampire before taking her hand and leading her back upstairs.

"It's still early." Willow pulled off her shoes before laying down and pulling Buffy with her. She crawled into the Vampire's arms and was sleeping in minutes.

Buffy lay awake and thought about everything that had happened and everything that was still happening.

Her last thought before drifting off was that the Slayer seemed more relaxed than she could ever remember seeing her.

With a smile on her face, The Vampire fell asleep in the arms of the Slayer.

(a/n: thanks to everyone who has given feedback so far)

Part eight – Bumps in the road

Buffy woke in the middle to a feeling she hadn't had in many years: warmth.

Opening her eyes she saw that the Slayer was practically lying on top of her, not that she minded though. Her human blanket tightened its grip, almost to the point of pain.

Buffy watched as the Slayer came awake. Her eyes were still closed but the Vampire knew that she was reaching out with her senses, alerting herself to any danger before waking fully. she didn't know how a half asleep Slayer would react to having a Vampire in her bed.

Willow stretched. Every muscle in her body coiled before springing back into place. The first thing she noticed when she woke up was that there was a Vampire close by, she waited for her Slayer senses to go crazy, but they stayed quiet, knowing that the Vampire wasn't a threat.

Opening her eyes she looked into Buffy's before realizing the position she was. Scrambling back, she put some distance between the two but picked up Buffy's hand and held it in hers when she saw a pout forming on the Vampire's lips.

They hadn't talked about any kind of relationship between themselves of any kind and Willow didn't want to misinterpret anything. Though saying that there had been some major kissing and light groping.

Buffy looked down at their hands before linking their fingers together and leaning her face in slowly towards the Slayer. She figured if the kiss was unwanted then she wouldn't be able to make contact.

Their lips met.

Buffy took dominance straight away. With a growl, she fended off Willow's tongue's assault with her own. The two dueled and parried in an erotic dance that had both of them whimpering and growling into each other's mouths.

Inevitably, Willow had to break their kiss to breathe. She got one good look at the passion buried deep within Buffy's eyes before her mouth lowered to her throat, and she was too awash with emotion to do anything but feel once again.

By this stage Buffy was on top of Willow who was now lying on her back. As she ran her tongue over the Slayer's pulse point, she distinctly heard a growl come from the girl beneath her.

Finally, Willow couldn't stand it anymore and plunged her own tongue into Buffy's mouth. Buffy let her explore for a while, growling when she discovered the sheaths for her fangs. Did The Slayer have any idea how sensitive a vampire's fangs were?

Before she lost all semblance of control, Buffy paused and looked down at the girl below her.

Willow used that pause to flip them over so she was on top and began kissing her way across Buffy jaw bone and latched onto the spot behind her earlobe.

Buffy let out a soft growl of pleasure and she smelt the Slayer's desire increase at the sound.

Raising shaking hands, Willow began to unbutton Buffy's shirt, as she kissed the skin before her, fumbling with a few of the buttons. She did want this but now that it was happening, everything Dru had said to her the morning after she had given her virginity away came rushing back full force.

~Like I really wanted to stick around after that.~

Trying to shake off the memories she got the shirt off and gasped at seeing Buffy's breasts enclosed in a red satin bra.

Lowering her head, she began nuzzling the flesh between them, listening to Buffy below her who was pleading for more.

~You got a lot to learn about women, kiddo. Although I guess you proved that last night~

She tired to concentrate on what she was doing to Buffy but the memories kept coming.

~You were great. Really. I thought you were a pro~

Moving down she nibbled around Buffy's belly button, receiving a yelp from the Vampire.

~Lighten up. It was a good time. It doesn't mean like we have to make a big deal~

Willow crouched on her knees and tried to make the voice in her head shut up.

~It's what? Bells ringing, fireworks, a dulcet choir of pretty little birdies? Come on, Willow. It's not like I've never been there before~

Buffy crouched over the Slayer as she rocked on her knees.

"Willow? Willow!? SLAYER!!"

Willow snapped out of it to see a shirtless Buffy before her looking scared.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Buffy looked freaked but Willow couldn't tell her what the problem was.

Buffy saw the fear in Willow's eyes but didn't know where it was coming from. She hadn't been overly aggressive had she? She knew that on occasion she was known to be.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

Willow tried getting off the bed Vampire was having none of it. Of course if she really wanted to Willow could seriously injure Buffy. It was lucky for Buffy that was the last thing on her mind.

"Willow, stop. Tell me what's wrong. Was it me? Am I rushing you here 'cause we can stop if you want."

Willow closed her eyes and a tear leaked out. She wanted to reassure Buffy but a part of her, a very large part, was scared.

What would happen if she woke up alone again? Willow wasn't sure she could handle that sort of rejection a second time.

Knowing what she had to do she opened her eyes and looked into the ones of the Vampire before her. The Vampire who was tenderly wiping the tears from her face.

All of Willow's resolve went out the window when she looked into Buffy's eyes. They showed her fear, her lust, her love, and Willow was horrified to see a realization dawning in them as well in them as well.

Buffy searched her brain. She replay the nights events in her head but could come up with nothing as to why the Slayer was so freaked out.

So she began thinking about recent events, and even with everything that was hanging over their head Buffy still...

"Dru." The word was spit from her mouth like it had a bad taste to it.

Willow lowered her head, refusing to look at Buffy, not wanting to see whatever was in her eyes at the moment.

She was startled when Buffy placed a hand under her chin to guide her head up so they were eye level.

Willow wasn't looking at Buffy at this point but Buffy's demon.

"What happened?" Spoke through fangs and growled out words reached Willow's ears but she didn't want Buffy to know. Maybe they could just forget this happened and could go back to the way things were.

"What happened?"

Willow sighed. She knew Buffy and she knew that she wouldn't give up. Averting her eyes she recounted waking up alone and the hurtful words that she believed still. Her embarrassment was obvious but she carried on.

Buffy sat quietly through it apart from a continuous growl escaping her.

When Willow was finished with the story Buffy spoke, and this time the words came easy.

"True Happiness. You gave her that. Whatever you two shared was good enough to break a hundred year old curse. Never doubt that."

"Could we just forget tonight happened?"

Buffy face, which had reverted to her human one as she spoke, switched to demon and back again Willow wasn't sure it happened.

This time it was Buffy who looked away before talking.

"If you want to forget it ever happened then we'll do that."

Buffy nearly choked getting the words out but she managed.

Picking up her discarded shirt she put it on, feeling the need to cover up. She, like Willow had never handled rejection well.

Picking up her boots she began lacing them up, avoiding looking directly at the Slayer, knowing her true emotions would show through.

Willow watched Buffy leave her room, unable to make a move to stop her until she heard her on the bottom stair.

Buffy was about to open the front door when a hand stopped her. Leaning forward she placed her head against the wood.

"I can't keep doing this Slayer. You either want this or you don't. Choose."

Willow turned Buffy to face her.

"What happened to Willow?" Not waiting for a answer she leaned in and kissed Buffy before she was pushed away.

"This is serious! Your in or your out, choose now, but keep in mind that if you choose yes then I'm not letting you go again. Ever."

Willow pulled back. She hadn't been expecting that and it showed on her face.

Buffy shook her head before opening the door and walking out, ignoring Willow's calls to stop.

She reacted on instinct when she was slammed from the side.

Throwing her attacker over her shoulder, she twisted their arm at the shoulder to keep a firm hold before looking into the pained gaze of the Slayer.

Buffy let go as if she had been burned.

Willow stood up slowly, rubbing her arm.

"You can't just dump something like that on me and then leave." Willow was trying to stay calm. Wasn't working.

Buffy stepped into Willow's personal space, switching to game face as she did. Inwardly she was happy when Willow never moved but it never showed on her face.

"Take a look. This is what I am. Its not all I am but it is a very large part. We get involved and it plays a large part of it. Understand?"

Willow said the worst thing she could have.

"It's not like I haven't been there before." She snapped her mouth shut as soon as the words left it.

They both closed their eyes; Willow in shame and Buffy because she needed to calm down or things were going to get steadily worse from here on in. She was way passed angry and bordering on entering the violence stage.

Opening her eyes she met the shameful gaze of the Slayer before turning and walking away.

This time Willow let her leave.

Part nine – Phase one

The next week passed in a blur. Willow still hadn't been allowed to read the book and her date with death was getting closer, plus she hadn't seen Buffy at all.

The gang just figured that the whole 'death hanging over her head thing' was making Willow grouchy but the truth was she couldn't get her mind off of Buffy.

All week long she had played out scenarios in her head of the two of them together. Dru had kept her Vampire side out of their relationship as much as possible but according to Buffy it would be fully apart of theirs. The thought excited Willow more than she liked.

She was brought out of her thoughts by Xander suggesting a night out at the Bronze.

Bronzing meant Buffy.

"That's a great idea Xand. We haven't had a break all week." The rest of the gang were too pleased to see Willow looking happier to question why.

Buffy nearly choked on her beer when she saw the Slayer walk in. That girl oozed power tonight and Buffy wasn't the only one to notice.

She never took her eyes off Willow as she made her way to a table and then onto the dance floor.

The beer bottle smashed in Buffy's hand when she saw a guy come up behind her and place his arms around her waist.

Just as she was standing to go over there and kill him, the Slayer firmly removed him from her body and moved away.

Buffy sat back down, pleased.

She stood straight backup when it was a girl this time who invaded the Slayer's personal space. Willow wasn't moving away this time. Instead she was dancing closer to her, much to the Scoobies shock and Buffy's anger.

Buffy stalked over to their table.

"Who the fuck is that?"

The gang jumped. They never knew she was there 'til she spoke.

Xander took the opportunity to needle Buffy.

"I don't know but it looks like Will knows her, or is planning on getting to know her. She's free and single now, it's about time she moved on to the living."

Buffy shot him a glare but didn't comment, the Slayer didn't belong to her. Yet. Instead she stalked away, not knowing that Willow had seen and heard the entire exchange and was also glaring at Xander.

"Tony I'm going out."

His reply wasn't heard as Buffy left the building and headed to the house to feed.

Willow didn't follow Buffy. She had wanted to but as she was heading in her direction she spotted two Vamps walking with a human girl towards a rundown house.

She followed, slipping a stake from her coat as she did.

Deciding not to go in as she didn't know how many were inside, she scaled the drain pipe at the side of the house before hoping onto a ledge that over looked one of the bedrooms.

A glimpse of blonde hair caught her attention and she watched open mouthed as Buffy walked up to the girl on the bed before sinking her fangs into her neck.

She watched the girls face contort with pleasure and her back arch so that more of her body was in contact with Buffy's.

Willow gripped the drain so hard the metal bent. Jealously was surging through her as she watched Buffy with another girl.

Not waiting to see how far Buffy would go she jumped the fifteen feet to the ground and stalked to the front of the house before kicking in the door.

She was rushed straight off by six Vamps that never stood a chance against her in the mood she was in.

Willow ran up the stairs and followed the moans of pleasure to Buffy.

Kicking open that door she watched as Buffy removed her fangs, giving the broken skin a bath with her tongue to close the wounds.

The girl on her bed was still coming down off her high but noticed the new girl.

"Hey do you mind? We're kinda busy here."

Willow never moved. She simply watched Buffy stand up before turning to the girl on the bed.

"Get out."

Something in Willow's eyes must have given her away because the girl fled leaving just Buffy and Willow in the room.

Buffy watched the Slayer as she licked her lips, removing all traces of blood.

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be too busy 'dancing' with your new friend to leave the Bronze just yet." She was jealous and couldn't hide it in her voice.

"I knew you did this but I never really thought about it before."

Buffy hadn't been expecting that. Switching back to normal her eyes showed her confusion.

Willow suddenly deflated like all the wind had been taken from her. It was better she saw this. She knew now that she could never become involved with Buffy and share her like this. That act was too sensual and intimate for her to share.

She never knew she had spoken out loud until Buffy was right in front of her.

"I could stop. If you could take me as me then I could stop. Hell I could bag it if it was what you wanted."

Buffy would give this up if it meant she could have Willow. She would go through some hellish withdraws with not getting to bite but it would be worth it.

Willow's eyes opened wide. Could she do it? Could she open her heart to yet another Vampire.

Too late she realized that she already had.

Taking Buffy's hand she led them out of the house and back to the Bronze. Neither spoke.

Willow wanted to do this right. If they were going to date then first things first.

Buffy frowned before being pulled behind Willow over to the group that still sat at the table with their drinks. Only Faith was now with them.

They all looked up when they saw Willow coming over, then they all wore confused faces as they took in the joined hands.

Willow sat down and pulled Buffy into the seat beside her. Nobody spoke. Everyone was staring and it was pissing both Buffy and Willow off. Just as Cordy opened her mouth to speak Tony came over.

"Boss you okay?"

Buffy turned her attention to him, pretending not to notice the others staring.

"I'm good but bring me a beer would you?"

Buffy turned back to the Slayer a question in her eyes.

"Beer."

Buffy turned back to Tony and sent him off with the order.

"Beer? Will you don't drink anymore remember?"

Willow blushed at the reminder of the frat party she ad attended with Cordy a year ago.

"I won't let anything happen to her."

Xander turned to Buffy.

"I'm sorry but forgive me for not being overly relived by that."

"Xander. Enough." It was said in such a strong voice that everyone turned to look at Tara, who held his gaze.

"Lets dance."

"But our drinks..." Willow never finished because Buffy had her up on the dance floor already.

Buffy pulled the Slayer close and relaxed when she felt Willow's arms around her waist.

Moving her mouth to Willow's ear Buffy spoke.

"You do remember my warning last night don't you?"

Willow shivered, but not in fear.

"That still stands. You agreed to it. Your mine now."

Willow pulled back so they were eye to eye.

"That works both ways."

Buffy smiled before pulling the Slayer in for a kiss, staking her claim in front of everyone.

Back at the table, Xander spluttered but Cordy whacked him upside the head and told him to grow up. He left the club fuming.

Neither Buffy or Willow noticed, they hadn't come up for air yet.

Buffy's hands were now resting on Willow's ass, they were breast to breast and hip to hip. Their bodies were straining to get closer but the clothes prevented it. Buffy moved a hand and let it travel from Willow's hip up to her breast, giving it a gentle squeeze through the material of her shirt.

As she smelt the Slayer's arousal go up another notch Buffy pulled back.

"We should stop." She didn't want to though, she wanted to take Willow there on the floor. She could almost feel the wetness she was sure she would find if she reached inside Willow's leather pants.

Willow moaned at the loss of the kiss before opening her eyes to see Buffy's flashing between gold and hazel as she tried to control herself.

Realizing that they were in a crowded club and not alone, Willow agree and they headed back to the table.

No one commented on the kiss, the groping or Xander's absence.

***

Giles watched his Slayer train and thought that she looked happier than he had seen her in a long time. Too long.

"Is there a reason for your new attitude?"

Willow paused in her high kick before lowering her leg and facing Giles.

"Remember that conversation we had a while ago about Buffy?"

A light dawned in Giles eyes and he took off his glasses before cleaning them.

"Ah."

"Good 'ah' or bad 'ah'?"

He answered truthfully.

"I'm not entirely sure at this point."

Willow nodded her head, expecting nothing.

"I just want you to know that I'm not rushing into anything here. I thought long and hard about what this means."

Giles gave her a small sad smile before going back to the text in his hands.

They were disturbed by loud voices from the hall. The doors opened to reveal the gang minus Oz and Faith.

"Hey guys."

"Hey Will. G-man."

"Xander I have asked you before not to call me that."

Xander shrugged before sitting down and picking up a book.

"So what evil are we researching tonight?"

Giles took the book off him and handed him one that was actually written in English, for all the good it would do.

"These are council books concerning tests they give their Slayer's. I've been reading up on what we can expect."

Willow piped up from her conversation with Tara about Oz's band playing a gig in L.A this weekend at this.

"So what have you learned because I'm really not looking forward to my birthday this year. The last few haven't went so well."

Giles face showed his confusion before it cleared.

"Yes, from fifteen on its not been that much fun for you has it?"

Cordy spoke then.

"What happened on fifteen and sixteen 'cause all I know about is the terror that was seventeen."

Willow turned to look at the door. The others followed her gaze wondering what she was looking at when Buffy walked in.

Willow watched Buffy as she took in each of the gang before walking over and giving her a kiss.

"Hey."

Willow smiled before leaning in for another kiss, ignoring Xander's exaggerated throat clearing.

"Well, the test-" Giles was interrupted by Buffy's loud growl.

They watched as the Vampire turned to face the door, the Slayer turning along with her.

Nobody expected Vampires to storm the school but there were fifty of them at least who walked through the door in the next seconds.

Buffy stepped forward, game face to the fore. she tried to keep her body between the Slayer and the Vampires as she finished what Giles was about to say.

"The test has already started. This is phase one."

Willow moved from behind Buffy, a stake appearing in one hand and a knife in the other.

"You good?"

Buffy knew exactly what she was referring to. Flashing her a toothy smile she showed she had all the weapons she needed.

The others had now joined them, apart from Tara who was chanting away under her breath. Giles had a sword, Xander a crossbow and Cordy a gun, which granted wouldn't kill a Vampire but it would do enough damage to keep her and Tara safe.

Buffy looked at each Vampire. She knew some of them, and they weren't that formable in a fight. She didn't know how they had got there so fast, she hadn't even sensed them lurking around when she had arrived, unless it was magic.

Pulling the Slayer to her she planted a quick, possessive kiss on her lips before launching herself into the horde of Vampires.

That was the starting signal it seemed.

Buffy, focused fully on the fight around her, caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye. Turning she saw a Vamp about to make a snack of the Watcher.

"Xander. Vamp two o'clock."

He turned and fired not even hesitating. The Vampire met a dusty end leaving Giles free to fight on.

Willow knew they were losing. There were too many Vampire to deal with. If only...

As soon as the thought formed she saw her. Faith had entered the fight.

Buffy saw her too and for once was happy to see the other Slayer.

Willow heard Tara's shout for everyone to get down before a flash filled the room. When she stood back up every Vampire apart from Buffy was gone.

They stood around the mess that was the Library. They turned as one to look at Tara who shrugged.

"I tapped into the magic I could feel coming off them and redirected it back to its owner."

They got off lightly, Xander had a broken arm, Giles had a cut on his head that would need stitches, Cordy and Tara were fine apart from being tired in Tara's case but it was Buffy Willow was worried about.

She had seen her take a pretty strong hit on the head that had been meant for her.

Just as she was about to move Buffy so she could have a look at the cut, the Vampire reached up and wrapped a hand in her hair before yanking her down forcefully into a heated kiss. Not that the Slayer minded of course.

When Willow came up for air, she jumped into action. Faith who had gotten off lightly with just a bloody nose would be driving Giles and Xander to the hospital while Buffy and Willow made sure the girls got home safe and then Willow was going to patch up Buffy. She herself wasn't bleeding, just bruised.

She was just glad she had survived the first part of the test. Now if only she could make it through the rest of it unharmed then everything would be fine.

Buffy could feel the anxiety coming off the Slayer and wrapped her up in a hug.

"I won't let anything hurt you. Not if I can stop it."

Willow didn't voice her fear that the test Traver's had planned was something that Buffy couldn't stop.

Part ten – Belonging

Giles was on the phone to England again, everyone else was seated around the table listening to the one sided conversation.

"...and I understand that you don't interfere but this is not a normal test and she is not a normal Slayer and the board knows that. Fine well then here's a surprise for you, Willow not only has Faith here but also a very powerful witch and a Vampire who has proven she is more than ready to protect the Slayer..."

Everyone but Willow turned to look at Buffy, who was straining to hear the other side of the conversation.

"...no not Drusilla but I believe you know this one quite well from the books-"

Giles paused before looking over at Buffy, raising his eyebrow in question.

She seemed to know what he was asking and nodded her head before turning and nuzzling into Willow's neck, a low purr escaping her that only the Slayer's could hear causing Faith to raise an eyebrow in question.

"-Elizabeth Anne Summers, also known as Buffy."

As he expected there was a pause on the other end of the line.

"Excellent, we'll expect you tomorrow then. Goodbye."

Giles hung up and turned to face the gang.

"That was a member of the board. There now feel it necessary to come for a visit. They'll be here at lunch tomorrow."

Buffy stood up and everyone's attention shifted from Giles to her.

Crouching down by Willow's chair so she could speak into her ear Buffy told her that she had told Tony she'd meet him at the club in ten minutes.

Willow nodded her head and kissed her girlfriend goodbye.

"Willow, I'll need you to keep a tight reign on Buffy while the council is here. They aren't exactly her favorite people."

Willow looked at her Watcher.

"Can you really blame her for hating them?"

Giles shook his head no.

"Don't worry about her. She'll play nice."

Xander cut in asking what made her so sure. Willow just smiled.

The three members of the council sat on Giles' couch drinking tea and waiting for the Slayers to arrive.

A knock came and Giles got up to answer the door, wondering who it was as the gang just walk on in.

As he opened the door he caught sight of a smoking blanket before Buffy rushed by him out of the danger of the sun. He went to close the curtains to give her extra protection and she rewarded him with a rare smile.

The smile dropped when she saw the Watchers sitting drinking tea.

She was in game face and by the side so fast Giles couldn't have saved them if he tried.

He watched as Buffy got very close to them before warning them that they had better not even try to mess with Willow while they were here or she'd torture them for weeks before she killed them. She even gave them a graphic description of what she would do to certain parts of their anatomy, making even Giles wince. in sympathy.

By the end of her threat they were all nearly as pale as her and Giles tried to hide his smirk.

He was saved from commenting by the arrival of Faith and Willow.

Willow ignored the Watchers and said hello to Giles before giving Buffy a hello kiss, which was gladly accepted.

Buffy deliberately didn't revert to human, letting the Watchers know not to mess with her. She was glad that Willow had no problem kissing her when she was all fangy.

Willow pulled back and looked into the golden eyes of her girlfriend.

"How come your all gggrrr?"

Before Buffy could answer Willow turned to face the Watchers and Giles couldn't hide his chuckle as they shrank away from the look on her face, although he knew that if that look was directed at him he would have backed away as well.

"What did you say to her?" It was nearly growled out.

Buffy reverted to human and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend.

"I was simply giving them a warning about their behavior while they're here."

Willow smirked at the Watchers before turning and giving Buffy another kiss, this one longer than the last due to the fact that Buffy wouldn't let it end.

The door opened again and in walked the rest of the gang. Giles living room was getting a bit crowded.

After hellos were passed between the group, the Watchers began speaking about Willow as if she wasn't even in the room which she took offence to.

A warning growl at them from Buffy and two very strong glares from both Slayers had them changing tactics.

After two hours, Willow had had enough. Standing up she made her way out to the small courtyard. She needed to get away from those men before she did something they would regret.

Buffy watched Willow go outside and wanted to follow her but couldn't. The sun was still high in the sky as it was only three thirty in the afternoon.

She turned to ask Tara to go to her but found her already on her way out the door.

Buffy turned back to face the Watchers who had fallen silent with Willow's exit.

"What did I say earlier?" As she spoke she advanced on them, stopping only when Giles stepped in front of her.

"Buffy, Willow trusts you enough to leave us here with you. Don't do anything that would bet-"

He was cut off by the scream for help that came from outside.

Buffy had her blanket over her and was outside before anyone else could move.

Tara was on the ground, holding a bleeding Willow.

Buffy's face shifted at the sight of her soon to be lover hurt.

"What happened?"

She ignored the fact that the blanket was about to fall and bent down to lift Willow into her arms, not even flinching when the sunlight hit her skin causing it to sizzle.

Xander watched the Vampire brave the sun and thought that Dru had never once done that. He noticed that Buffy was about to get fried and did something he would never had thought he would.

He protected Buffy.

He lifted the blanket and hovered over her and the unconscious Willow and followed them back into the house.

Buffy lay Willow on the couch after growling at the Watchers to get up. Giles was there already with first aid supplies and together they set about cleaning Willow's wound on her forehead, which wasn't deep but did have a stone or two stuck inside.

As they worked Tara told them how Willow had been talking when all of a sudden she stopped, closed her eyes and fell off the seat, knocking herself out and cutting her head.

Buffy took it all in, a frown marring her demonic features. Turning to look at Tara she tired shaking off her demon and found that she couldn't. God it was happening again.

Not letting her panic show she spoke in words that sounded like growls.

"The Slayer doesn't fall over. Do you sense any magic?"

Tara closed her eyes and concentrated. Opening them she could see a faint blue light swirling around Willow and a darker blue around Buffy. She told them what she saw and was worried by the look on Buffy's face.

When Willow was all fixed up Buffy sat back before looking up to Giles.

"Do you have anything that could be used to chain a person up?"

"Why would we need that? Buffy you are not going to torture these men to find out information."

Buffy sent an evil smile towards said men before turning back to Giles.

"Not for them. For me. And possibly Willow."

"Buffy what-" again he was cut off.

"I can't shift. If what happened before happens again then I want to be locked up. Willow has been hit with magic, I could sense it but Tara saw it. Lock her up until she wakes, then see how she is."

The words were becoming more and more raw, letting them all know there wasn't much time.

"Xander, the basement. There is a set of chains in a box down there. Find them."

As Xander was leaving Buffy told him to hurry. Giles was about to carry Willow down when Buffy snapped at him.

"Mine!"

Bending, she picked up her Slayer and turned to walk down the stairs, warning everyone to stay away from Willow with growls and snarls.

"Mr Giles I must protest!"

Giles turned to look at the Councilman who had spoken.

With a grin that hid his nervousness he replied with "rather you than me mate."

Willow woke up to feel cold metal against her wrist and someone wrapped around her.

As she gathered her bearings she realized that it was chains and Buffy.

Buffy, who when she opened her eyes was in game face and growling.

Raising her hand, she rested it against Buffy cheek.

"You okay?"

Buffy couldn't speak, well she could but the words were lost in the growls that accompanied them. Lowering her face, she gave Willow's neck a lick, trying to convey that she was doing okay.

Willow shivered at the feel of Buffy's tongue lathering her Pulse point. She raised her hand to pull Buffy closer, receiving a harder lick off the Vampire.

Buffy could feel her control slipping. Moving her mouth away from Willow's neck she located her lips and the two lost themselves in a kiss.

Breaking from the kiss to give Willow air, Buffy moved her kisses along the Slayer's jaw before coming back to her lips.

Buffy, who had snapped her chains already, had her hands buried in Willow's hair while Willow's hands were grasping wherever they could reach of Buffy.

Making things easier for the Slayer, Buffy moved them so they were lying down with her on top so she could continue her kisses.

Willow couldn't think straight. The things Buffy was making her feel weren't new but they seemed stronger somehow.

She didn't want their first time to be on a cold basement floor but it looked like it was going to be.

Getting tired of her restraints, Willow pulled as hard as she could, cutting the skin on her wrists and whimpering at the pain.

Buffy's head came up at the first smell of blood. Raising Willow's bloodied wrists to her mouth she licked them clean, closing the wounds as she did so. All the time she never took her eyes off the girl below her. When she was finished she moved her mouth to Willow's and spoke one word before devouring it in a kiss.

"Mine."

Willow never got to reply as she was currently sucking on Buffy's tongue.

Buffy broke the kiss and moved down Willow's body, stopping at her breasts.

Popping the buttons on the Slayer's shirt, she lowered her head and placed wet open mouthed kisses to the skin below.

The bra was gone in seconds, thanks to a front clasp and then Willow was moaning her lover's name as Buffy sucked on a nipple, aware of her fangs.

Willow's hands had not been idle while Buffy was exploring.

Buffy sat up to find her short unbuttoned and her lather pants open.

Grinning at the Slayer below her, Buffy scooted down a little to open Willow's jeans before coming back up so they were face to face.

They seemed to move as one. Willow had her left hand behind Buffy's head, holding her while they kissed, while her right was in Buffy's pants. Buffy held Willow the same way.

They both entered the other with two fingers and the Vampire broke the kiss to look into her lover's eyes.

They began thrusting harder and deeper, Willow's moans of pleasure mixing with Buffy's growls and purrs.

Willow noticed her lover's eyes lower to stare at her neck and she couldn't control what happened next.

Buffy saw as Willow tilted her head to the side, baring her neck. She needed no further encouragement and lowered her face, sucking on the skin and waiting for the right time.

As they both neared orgasm Buffy gently broke Willow's skin, and growled in release as the Slayer's powerful blood flowed over her tongue and down her throat.

Willow came with a shout of Buffy's name, forgetting that there was others upstairs.

Buffy only took a few mouthfuls before pulling back and licking the wounds closed.

"Mine." She said it again just incase Willow missed it before.

Willow smiled up at her lover.

"Yours."

With a purr, Buffy lowered her lips to her lover's.

Part eleven – Insecurities

Giles rushed down the stairs when he heard Willow's shout. What he saw was not what he expected.

Buffy was in game face and was lapping at a trail of blood coming from his Slayer's neck.

Picking up the dart gun that was sitting on a sideboard, he aimed at Buffy and fired.

The Vampire flinched before collapsing on top of it's mate.

"Giles!" Willow lifted Buffy up and set her down gently on the ground before righting both their clothing. As she was doing it Giles realized just what had been going on and his mouth dropped open.

"Here!?! Now!?! We have enough going on at the minute. Willow do you not understand that right now Buffy is little more than an animal?"

Willow took offence to hearing her lover called an animal and it showed on her face.

"For gods sake she *bit* you!"

"I know."

The calmly spoken words stopped Giles. He stared at the girl before him before telling her they would be talking about this later.

Willow nodded her head before standing and cradling Buffy in her arms and walking up the stairs to join the others.

Willow looked over at Buffy. The Vampire was still out of it and she was getting a lecture off Giles about the dangers of Vampire sex.

Willow was almost the same color as her hair.

"…further more to act upon those impulses when Buffy wasn't herself could have proved-" he was cut off by the growl that filed the room.

Buffy was awake and not a happy Vampire. Searching the room she spotted her mate talking to her Watcher.

Buffy was beside them in a second, Willow in her arms.

Willow reached up and stroked her lover's ridges trying to calm her down.

Golden eyes locked with green and the growling stopped to be replaced with purring and the ridges fell away.

"We really need to figure out what keeps happening to make you react that way."

Buffy gave Willow an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry about before."

Giles left them sensing that this was a private conversation.

"I know that you wanted the first time to be perfect and I ruined it. Though in all honesty, I really don't regret it."

The smile Willow sent her lover was infectious and Buffy returned it. They were interrupted by Giles calling them over.

"We have a plan."

Willow and Buffy sat down and listened as Giles explained what he had come up with along with the other Watchers.

Buffy knew that she could pull it off but she knew that if she did, she wouldn't be able to see Willow while it was happening.

"So you want me to kill the Warlock then offer Travers my services?"

Giles nodded his head and everyone turned to look at Willow to see her reaction.

Willow looked from her lover to each of her friends. She didn't like this plan one bit.

"What about these little 'feral phases' that keep creeping up on Buffy?"

"We believe that the Warlock is causing them. If he is dead, then he can't continue with it."

Buffy cut in here.

"The Warlock is human, you all realize this?"

Everyone looked at each other. They had forgotten that.

"Hey I have no problem killing the bastard, but I just don't want certain people condemning me for it." She threw a glare at the Watchers and Xander before turning to face her lover.

"You okay with that?"

Willow was torn. She was the Slayer, but that didn't give her the right to pass judgment on who should live or die.

Buffy saw the struggle her lover was going through and spoke up again.

"How about if I don't kill him, but take him out of the game?" There were many ways to hurt a person enough but keep them alive, and Buffy knew if not them all, then most of them.

Giles thought about it before agreeing. Willow looked relieved.

"Everyone go home. Have tonight off and we will begin tomorrow night, though Buffy you should start making moves tonight."

Buffy looked at Willow before turning back to Giles.

"I'm taking tonight off. I'll take the tunnels tomorrow and do what I have to do then."

No-one argued with her and everyone left arranging to meet the next say at noon.

Buffy and Willow walked the gang to their respective homes before heading over to Willow's.

"Your mom still in L.A?"

"Yup."

Buffy sent her lover a wicked leer before taking her hand and pulling her along faster.

Buffy's place was closer so they headed there.

As soon as Buffy had shut the door they were all over each other.

Buffy backed Willow into the wall which just happened to have the window on it which stopped Willow.

"They'll see." She was talking about the dancers in the club.

Buffy turned her around so that Willow was looking over the entire club.

"It's special glass. You can see them, but they can't see you."

Buffy palmed Willow's breasts before removing her shirt and leaving her topless.

Willow moaned as her lover began placing nipping kisses along the base of her spine. Buffy brought her hands up to Willow's waist and gently turned Willow to face her.

Willow looked down at Buffy on her knees before her and felt a blot of arousal travel through her body.

With a growl, Buffy ripped open Willow's pants and pulled them along with her underwear off, leaving Willow naked before her.

Buffy gazed at the patch of hair just in front of her face and let her eyes wander up to Willow's before bringing them back down again.

The smell of Willow's arousal was assaulting Buffy's senses.

Pushing Willow back so that she was leaning against the glass, Buffy followed and burred her nose in the rough patch of hair, breathing in her lovers scent.

As she was stoking Willow's legs with her hands, Buffy moved her mouth to her lovers core and without warning, ran it once, hard and fast, over her clit.

Buffy pulled away and stood up. She anted to do it right this time, and not rush things. Taking Willow's hand, she turned and led her over to the bedroom.

"I know that you wanted the first time to be perfect, but maybe this can make up for it."

Willow smiled before giving Buffy a small kiss.

"It might not have been what I imagined, but I wouldn't change a thing."

They both moved at the same time. Falling onto the bed, Willow rolled on top, stretching out over the body below her.

Leaning down, Willow resumed the kiss before breaking off and sitting up, straddling Buffy's waist.

"These need to go." Willow indicated what she meant by tugging at Buffy's top and pants.

Buffy sat up and attacked Willow's lips with her own.

By the time Willow had to come up for air, Buffy was topless.

"What…when…?" Willow was having trouble speaking at the sight before her.

Buffy smirked at the look on Willow's face.

Willow lifted herself up and let Buffy tug off her pants and panties before she lowered herself back down again, both hissing at the contact.

"Will…" Buffy was loosing the little control she had. Everything in her was screaming to take the Slayer.

Willow heard the need behind Buffy's growl and began kissing her way down to her breasts, stopping to nip, lick and suck each one before moving down, listening to the growls and purrs coming from the Vampire below her.

"Yes…little lower…"

Willow followed Buffy's commands and stopped when she reached her intended target, suddenly feeling nervous.

Buffy noticed the change and looked down to see Willow kneeling between her legs.

"What?" The word came out strained.

"I…well see me and…" Willow took a deep breath, "I've never done this before.

Buffy stared at her in shock.

"But you and Dru…"

Willow flinched at the mention of her only other lover.

"Well yeah, but we never…you know…did that."

Willow waited for Buffy to say something. After a few seconds of silence she dared a look up.

Buffy was grinning like a madwoman and she knew it.

"What?"

Buffy moved and rolled them so that she was on top.

"Let me do this for you?"

Willow looked into the hazel eyes above her before shakily nodded her head yes.

Buffy smiled before leaning down and kissing Willow. She didn't stay for too long at her mouth however and started moving along her jaw towards her neck.

The light sucking on her neck was causing Willow to squirm just right against Buffy's thigh, letting the Vampire know just how much she enjoyed the attention.

"So beautiful." The murmured words whispered against her skin, sent a blot of arousal through Willow's body.

"Buff…please…"

Buffy stopped what she was doing and rose up until they were eye level.

Willow gulped at the look on the Vampire's face. It was predatory.

Leaning down, Buffy placed a kiss between Willow's eyes before moving down to her lips.

"Love you."

The Vampire slid down the Slayer's body and came to a stop to rest between Willow's legs.

Hooking her legs over her shoulders, Buffy blew gently on the exposed skin before slowly running her tongue from top to bottom.

"nnnnaaaaa…" Willow reached up and grasped the iron bed frame behind her and held onto it with a death grip.

Willow arched off the bed when Buffy circled her clit with the tip of her tongue, forcing Buffy to use a hand to keep her hips in place.

Moving up a little, Buffy prodded the spot just above Willow's clit, causing the Slayer to once again try to heave upwards, only Buffy's grip on her stopped her from bucking the Vampire off.

"Easy Will."

Willow never replied, she was too busy bending the bed frame into a whole knew shape.

Buffy moved her tongue down and entered Willow's body, letting it go as deep as possible before gently removing it and repeating the action until Willow was mindless with need.

"Now…god now…please…"

Buffy brought her tongue out of Willow's body and moved up so she was circling her clit. While she was doing this, she brought a finger into play, which was quickly joined by a second, thrusting them into her lover's body.

"So close…"

Buffy looked up but never moved from her spot. She watched as Willow's eyes met hers. She saw all the emotions, felt them as if they were her own.

Letting go, so that she was only holding onto the bed frame with one hand, Willow reached down and stoked the side of Buffy's face before her hand fell away and her orgasm washed over her.

The last thing she remember before blacking out, was a cool body wrapping itself around her, and a voice whispering words in her ear.

Willow stretched an arm across the bed, looking for the body that was supposed to be there.

Her eyes snapped open when she only found sheets.

Sitting up she wrapped the blanket around herself.

"Not again. Please not again." She didn't noticed the tears start to fall.

She wondered if this was going to happen every time she had sex.

She ignored the fact that Buffy didn't have a soul to lose and that they had already had sex. All Willow knew, was that she had woken up alone yet again.

Resisting the urge to huddle on the bed and cry, Willow stood up and began looking for her clothes.

Remembering that she had already been naked by the time they reached the bedroom, she ventured out into the living area.

Spotting her pants, she grabbed them and already had one leg in when a voice stopped her cold.

"Going somewhere?"

Willow spun around to see Buffy standing a few feet behind her.

"You're here?" It was said like a question, though it came out more of a statement.

Buffy stood where she was, not knowing what was going through the Slayer's head.

"Am I not supposed to be?"

Willow took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Buffy didn't seem any different to her, yet neither had Dru until she let it be known she was soulless. On the other hand, Buffy never had a soul to start with.

Opening her eyes, Willow looked over at Buffy, who still hadn't moved.

"Where were you?"

"I woke up and I was hungry. I was just heating up some blood then coming back to bed."

Willow didn't know she had been holding her breath until she let it out in a relieved sigh.

Buffy raised an eyebrow in question.

Willow lowered her head and finished pulling on her pants, not wanting to delve into why she had freaked out.

Maybe it was something in the way Willow wouldn't meet her eyes, or the fact that she had asked *that* question, Buffy didn't know, but she caught onto what was wrong.

Cursing Dru once again she wrapped Willow in her arms, relaxing when she got no struggle from the Slayer.

"I didn't want to move. You were snuggled into me, head resting on my chest and a leg thrown over me, but I was hungry."

Willow heard the apologetic tone and looked up, but Buffy went on.

"So I figured I could make it to the kitchen, heat up the blood and be back in bed before you woke. Maybe I should get a fridge and microwave in our room, make sure this doesn't happen again."

Buffy raised her hand and placed it under Willow's chin, stroking the skin there.

"I think I already said this but…you are Mine. My Mate. I won't be leaving. Ever."

And like that all of Willow insecurities went flying out the window.

"Our room?"

Buffy smirked.

"Caught that did you?" She began leading them back to said room.

"What time is it?" Willow had to meet the others at noon to start on their side of the plan.

"A little after seven."

With that Buffy captured the Slayer's lips, putting everything she felt into it.

To be continued...

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